A fair trial requires defense counsel who can defend their clients zealously, without fear of reprisal.

These trials are commencing in an environment of severe insecurity, … Everyone participating in the trial participation in the trial process judges, prosecutors, victims, witnesses and defense counsel are exposing themselves to grave risks.

To minimize the risks involved, the court must make sure the lawyers it appoints mount a vigorous defense.

Now more than ever, we urge international donors to provide adequate funding so the court can complete its work successfully.

This is a disturbingly low threshold. It’s a real anomaly that reflects Iraqi law but not developing international law.

The ICC must also look into abuses committed by the Ugandan army. If the court finds that these crimes don’t fall within its limited mandate, it should make its findings available to the Ugandan authorities...

The trial did lay bare evidence of crimes he was alleged to have committed. I don’t feel the four years were a waste in this sense. Something of a record has been set out, though...

Despite shortcomings, it was a momentous day for Iraqis. It sends a signal that the days of unlimited impunity for these types of crimes may be winding down.

There has only been one case to date in which a war crime committed against ethnic Serbs was prosecuted and properly tried in a Croatian court. By contrast, Croatian courts have found ethnic Serbs guilty...

This reluctance to press Nigeria to hand over Taylor fosters a double standard that betrays the people of Sierra Leone,

This could have a chilling effect on the willingness of competent lawyers to vigorously defend the accused and that could have a fatal effect on the fairness and effectiveness of the trial.

The boycott of defense lawyers must be handled in a way that demonstrates both the tribunals full commitment to fair trial rights and its control of the proceedings.

But investigation does not mean indictment unless the evidence sustains one.

There is an urgent need for a state to step forward. A prolonged delay would raise real questions about the commitment of the international community to international justice.

All kinds of political actors will be trying to spin the procedures to their own political ends in one way or another, be that the U.S. ambassador, the prime minister, the defense lawyers, the judge...

The recent murder of two defense lawyers in the trial demonstrates the urgent need to protect those lawyers as well as witnesses,

This is a historic step, but only a first step because the prosecutor has been silent about crimes by the Ugandan Army.

serious human rights shortcomings in the structure of the trial.

There are lessons for the prosecution to learn and lessons for the judges to learn. The length of the trial underscores the importance of focusing on the key charges.

I think we need to dial down our expectations of the history-telling functions of these trials.

It’s a huge setback for justice. Most of all, it’s a setback for the victims.

On the second anniversary of Charles Taylor’s flight to Nigeria, his continued impunity is undermining the rule of law in West Africa and putting civilians in the region at risk.

The judges’ inauguration makes this court more unstoppable than ever,

It’s the victims that matter most, those who lost relatives, those who suffered, … They must feel closure. If the trial’s not fair and open, that satisfaction will not result.

have a chilling effect on the willingness of competent lawyers to vigorously defend the accused in these cases.

U.S. ambassadors have been acting like schoolyard bullies. The U.S. campaign has not succeeded in undermining global support for the court. But it has succeeded in making the U.S. government look foolish and mean-spirited.

not just as people associated with horrific acts but as indicted war criminals by an international court.

We have grave concerns that the court will not provide the fair trial guarantees required by international law, … But it’s not too late for the tribunal’s judges to fix some of these problems if...

Nigeria must ensure that Taylor is not permitted to flee from justice and the international community must ensure that security in Liberia is maintained during this process.

This is a disturbingly low threshold, … It’s a real anomaly that reflects Iraqi law but not developing international law.

We call on all governmental and inter-governmental actors in West Africa to ensure Taylor promptly appears for trial.

We understand that any trial will need to be accessible to the victims of the crimes, and to those in whose names the crimes were committed, … But if it proves impossible to conduct a...

The people of northern Uganda have long suffered terrible abuses without any chance of redress, … With today’s arrest warrants, the ICC has opened the door for justice to be done.

This is a historic step which opens doors to justice for people of Northern Uganda who have suffered horribly for nearly 20 years under the hands of the LRA,

I think indeed that these trials need to be conducted on a more focused basis than the Milosevic trial was. Of necessity, some of these criminal trials will not be able to tell anywhere near...

You cannot put new defense attorneys in like screwing in a light bulb. The failure by the appointed attorneys to ask the witnesses questions was probably the most disturbing part.

This is a crucial moment for Washington to help West Africa break a devastating cycle of impunity.

The U.S. government has played a very positive role in pressing for Taylor’s surrender. His transfer to the Sierra Leone war crimes court marks a milestone in the international community’s commitment to justice.

A third country needs to offer a jail cell for Charles Taylor if he’s convicted. Countries should be lining up to take Taylor, not backing away.

However, all arrangements for witness protection must be consistent with fair trial guarantees.

We think this is an important first step and we urge the prosecutor to go further and higher, up to the political actors who were manipulating these militias for their own ends.

I think there have been real difficulties and problems in the Milosevic trial. What will be important is the evidence that was presented to indicate the motivation and intent of Milosevic.

We will look very carefully at how the judges respond to motions submitted by the defense, including requests for more time to allow adequate preparation.

These arrest warrants are only a first step. If the warrants are to mean anything, governments must act now to arrest the accused.

She is the principal figure to date to be sentenced by the tribunal, and when you add the confession of guilt it makes for a significant milestone in the work of the tribunal.

For the U.S. government and the United Nations not to press Nigeria to hand Taylor over will send a clear message that the law only reaches so far.

Politically, it makes sense to be an exponent of justice.

The problem will occur if judges are not able to insulate the tribunal against that influence, … If they are unable to do that, then there are going to be serious questions about the tribunal’s...

I was troubled to see the prosecutor make what was effectively a lengthy, pretty political statement that wasn’t necessarily legally grounded.

We think there is a certainly a credible basis for this investigation by the tribunal given the facts that we have gathered.