Special Court for Sierra Leone / Justice Richard Lussick Elected Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber II
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, January 18, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Justice Richard Brunt Lussick of Samoa has been elected Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber II. He succeeds Justice Teresa Doherty, whose one-year term ended on 17 January 2012.
Pursuant to Rule 27 of the Special Court’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the Presiding Judge of the Trial Chamber is elected for a renewable term of one year. It has, however, been the practice of the Trial Chambers to rotate the position of Presiding Judge at the end of each one-year term.
Justice Lussick was appointed a Judge at the Special Court in 2004. Prior to joining the Court, he held a wide variety of positions within the Samoan judiciary, including Acting Chief Justice, Judge of the Court of Appeal, Acting President of the Land & Titles Court, Supreme Court Judge, Chairman of the Public Service Appeals Board, District Court Judge, and Coroner. From 1995-2000 he served as Chief Justice of the Republic of Kiribati. He is a past Vice President of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.
Justice Lussick previously served as Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber II from 2006-2007 and from 2009-2010.
Trial Chamber II is currently considering their judgement in the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.
SOURCE
Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)
