PILPG Update

PILPG’s Michael Scharf Publishes “Saddam on Trial”
November 8, 2006

Carolina Academic Press has recently published Saddam on Trial: Understanding and Debating the Iraqi High Tribunal — a timely and unique book of essays that examine over fifty issues related to this historic trial. The book is edited by PILPG’s Managing Director, Michael Scharf, and his fellow Professor at Case School of Law, Gregory McNeal, both of whom have been assisting the Iraqi High Tribunal.  The text features contributions by Cherif Bassiouni, David Crane, Bill Schabas, Mark Ellis, Leila Sadat, Mark Drumble, Paul Williams, and other leading experts.

Saddam on Trial addresses a host of issues related to the Saddam trial such as: Was it a mistake to try Saddam in Baghdad before a panel of Iraqi judges? Was the Iraqi High Tribunal a legitimate judicial institution? Were the proceedings fundamentally fair? Did the judges react properly to the defendants’ attempts to derail the proceedings? Did the Prosecution prove its case? Did Saddam have any valid defenses? What precedents did this extraordinary trial set?

The text offers a series of essays, in which leading international and criminal law experts discuss and debate more than fifty discrete questions raised by the trial. The book also includes a psychological profile of Saddam Hussein, a chronology of the trial, a glossary of key legal terms, a synopsis of the charges and applicable law, a summary of the evidence and testimony, and English translations of the Tribunal’s Statute, Rules, and other relevant instruments.

About the Public International Law & Policy Group

The Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) is a global, pro bono law firm providing free legal assistance to governments and states involved in conflicts. To facilitate use of this legal assistance, PILPG also provides policy formation advice and training on matters related to conflict resolution.  In 2005 PILPG was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The four primary practice areas of PILPG are Peacebuilding, International Justice, Post-Conflict Political Development, and Public International Law. To provide pro bono legal advice and policy formulation expertise, PILPG relies almost exclusively on volunteer legal assistance from more than sixty former international lawyers, diplomats, and foreign relations experts, as well as pro bono assistance from major international law firms. Annually, PILPG is able to provide over $2 million worth of pro bono international legal services.

Because of its diverse network of volunteers, PILPG is able to maintain volunteer points of contact in London, Paris, New York, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Boston, Rome, The Hague, Stockholm, Brussels, Kabul, Nairobi, and Seattle. In July 1999, the United Nations granted official Non-Governmental Organization status to PILPG.

The Managing Board of PILPG includes

Paul Williams - Executive Director,
Michael Scharf - Managing Director, and
James Hooper - Managing Director.

To learn more about the Public International Law & Policy Group, please visit our website at http://www.pilpg.org