Thursday, September 13, 2018

Freedman on the first ICC trial

Jim Freedman, Western University published A Conviction in Question: The First Trial at the International Criminal Court with the University of Toronto Press in 2017. From the publisher:
A Conviction in QuestionA lively narrative account of the first case to appear at the International Criminal Court, A Conviction in Question documents the trial of Union of Congolese Patriots leader and warlord, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. Although Dyilo’s crimes, including murder, rape, and the forcible conscription of child soldiers, were indisputable, legal wrangling and a clash of personalities caused the trial to be prolonged for an unprecedented six years. This book offers an accessible account of the rapid evolution of international law and the controversial trial at the foundation of the International Criminal Court. 
The first book to thoroughly examine Dyilo’s trial, A Conviction in Question looks at the legal issues behind each of the trial’s critical moments, including the participation of Dyilo’s victims at the trial and the impact of witness protection. Through eye-witness observation and analysis, Jim Freedman shows that the trial suffered from all the problems associated with ordinary criminal law trials, and uses Dyilo’s case to further comment on the role of international courts in a contemporary global context.
Praise for the book:

"While containing a startling amount of scholarly content, A Conviction in Question reads like a well-told detective story, and I read it from cover to cover in one sitting, turning page after page to get to the next revealing detail." -Joanna Quinn

"Freedman delivers a rich and comprehensive account of the prosecution of warlord Thomas Lubanga. Including lively trial quotes, A Conviction in Question is gripping and accessible." -Mark Drumbl

Further information is available here.