Judge in Saddam Hussein trial resigns

**Marcellus** · 01-15-2006, 04:10

The chief judge in the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has tendered his resignation, reports say.

A source involved in the tribunal told the BBC he is disappointed by public reaction to his running of the trial.

Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin has been accused by Iraqi and US politicians of being too lenient on Saddam Hussein during hearings at his murder trial.

The source said his resignation has not yet been accepted and colleagues are trying to persuade him to reconsider.

Judge Rizgar has been remarkably lenient to Saddam Hussein and his half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, and they have taken advantage of this, our correspondent says.

However, he says that this does not mean that the senior judge has lost control of his court.

Judge Rizgar is a polite, highly intelligent man, who wants the world to see that he dispenses a very different kind of justice from Saddam's own courts, our correspondent says.

And it is a tactic that works, he adds - at the start of the trial, Saddam Hussein refused even to give his name. Yet by force of sheer politeness, Judge Rizgar has worn him down.

His resignation must be approved by both the prime minister's counsel and the president and vice-presidents. The trial is due to resume on 24 January.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4613098.stm

If he does resign, my (not particlarly well informed) opinion is that it would be very unfortunate. From the small amount of footage I saw of him, he seemed like a fair judge, which I think is needed to really show people that things are different from the regime of the defendent. And as the article points out, this tactic seems to have worked to an extent.

**Soulforged** · 01-15-2006, 04:40

Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin has been accused by Iraqi and US politicians of being too lenient on Saddam Hussein during hearings at his murder trial.

The judge should not fear external pressures because they can't do nothing to him, maybe the issue is more internal. (sarcasm) Unless of course that in this case the impartiality of the judge is null, wich might be possible, knowing that Saddam is already guilty.(sarcasm)

**Husar** · 01-15-2006, 13:46

If what the article says about him is true, I hope he´ll stay.
Reminds me of this somehow.

Well, hope that´s not it.

**Xiahou** · 01-29-2006, 15:09

I think the new judge might do better.

Saddam Hussein Removed From Court Room

**Tribesman** · 01-29-2006, 16:41

I think the new judge might do better.

Better ???? he looks like he is setting the whole thing to collapse as a mis-trial and for the whole process to have to start again .

**Xiahou** · 01-29-2006, 17:24

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Better ???? he looks like he is setting the whole thing to collapse as a mis-trial and for the whole process to have to start again .

No, I'd say that's what Saddam's defense team is going for. I'm sure they'd like nothing better to drag the trail on for all eternity. I view what transpired as a crackdown by the new judge- it may take several more before he gets through to them that it's a courtroom and not a pro-Saddam rally, but it's a good first step.

**Tribesman** · 01-30-2006, 00:44

No, I'd say that's what Saddam's defense team is going for. I'm sure they'd like nothing better to drag the trail on for all eternity.
Exactly Xiahou , and it seems like the judge has given them it .
It also appears that this action will prevent the death sentance that the prosecution is pressing for in this current case .

**Navaros** · 01-30-2006, 01:20

I think the first Judge resigned because it dawned on him that he had no legal jurisdiction to put the President of Iraq on trial. In fact that is what Iraq's Constitution states (the one Saddam made, the not one the puppet government is trying to make). He probably resigned due to great shame he felt at participating in an illegitimate trial.

**Xiahou** · 01-30-2006, 01:26

Originally Posted by Navaros

I think the first Judge resigned because it dawned on him that he had no legal jurisdiction to put the President of Iraq on trial. In fact that is what Iraq's Constitution states (the one Saddam made, the not one the puppet government is trying to make). He probably resigned due to great shame he felt at participating in an illegitimate trial.

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Exactly Xiahou , and it seems like the judge has given them it .
It also appears that this action will prevent the death sentance that the prosecution is pressing for in this current case .

Isnt the judge usually the one to declare a mistrial? I don't see this one doing so.

**bmolsson** · 01-30-2006, 02:38

It's a farce. I thought the Iraqi's would use it as a booster for democracy, but clearly it rather the opposite....

**Tribesman** · 01-30-2006, 03:10

Isnt the judge usually the one to declare a mistrial?
Yep , and if he is going to follow the laws that are governing this trial he will have little option but to do so .
I don't see this one doing so.
Are you saying that he is not going to follow the law?

Can he eject the defendants , yes .
Can he eject the lawyer who wouldn't shut up , yes .
Can he ban the lawyers who walked out , possibly .
Can he proceed with the new lawyers he appointed without an adjournment , no .

Well , according to the bloke that trained him and the last judge who resigned , and who helped draw up the laws governing this trial .