With reports that the International Criminal Court prosecutor‘s investigation is nearing an end in the Darfur war crimes case, Mike Newton, Vanderbilt University‘s international criminal law expert, can discuss the legal issues surrounding crimes against humanity. Newton participated as a judge on the International Citizens Tribunal to try the president of Sudan for crimes against humanity in Darfur. Judgment on Genocide: The International Citizens Tribunal for Sudan met in New York Nov. 13, and while it has no legal authority, it highlighted the ongoing investigation at the International Criminal Court. Newton says the Sudanese government‘s clear intent is to “systematically eliminate the non-Arab population of Darfur.” (Link to Newton‘s written opinion: http://www.judgmentongenocide.org/judgmentnewton.html).
Newton was one of two U.S. delegates negotiating the Elements of Crimes document for the International Criminal Court at The Hague. He is a former military judge advocate general and served as senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues. Newton has done numerous national/international interviews concerning the Saddam Hussein trial since he helped train the Iraqi Tribunal, going to Baghdad three times. He continues to serve as an academic advisor to the Iraqi Tribunal. (Media Contact: 24/7 number 615-322-2706)
Media contact: Emily Pearce, (615) 343-NEWS
emily.pearce@vanderbilt.edu