The Saddam Trial Continues – Sort Of

The trial of Saddam Hussein continued Monday in Baghdad.

Saddam Hussein’s defense team walked out of the courtroom Monday shortly after the former leader’s trial resumed because the judge refused to allow former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark to challenge the tribunal’s legitimacy in an address to the court.

After the lawyers walked out, Saddam told the judge: “You are imposing lawyers on us. They are imposed lawyers. The court is imposed by itself. We reject that.”

Clark said he needed only two minutes to present his argument. But Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin said the tribunal had been established under the law by an elected Iraqi government and that only Saddam’s chief lawyer could address the hearing.

Clearly the only defense that Saddam and the rest of the accused have is in challenging the legitimacy of the Iraq government and their newly established courts. Just as clearly this is the defense of desperation.

UPDATE: Court Reverses Ruling in Saddam Trial

The court in the Saddam Hussein trial allowed former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and another foreign defense lawyer to address the session Monday, reversing a ruling that had led the defense to walk out.

After a 90-minute recess, Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin allowed Clark and ex-Qatari Justice Minister Najib al-Nueimi to speak on the questions of the legitimacy of the tribunal and safety of the lawyers.

James Joyner (OTB) has more.

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