Julian Assange appeal ruling to be given by London High Court on Tuesday
Source: Reuters
March 25, 2024 12:54 PM EDT
LONDON, March 25 (Reuters) - London's High Court will hand down its ruling on Tuesday on whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be able to appeal against extradition from Britain to the United States, in what could be his final legal challenge in British courts.
U.S. prosecutors want to put Assange, 52, on trial on criminal charges relating to WikiLeaks' high-profile release of vast troves of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables. They argue the leaks imperilled the lives of their agents and there was no excuse for his criminality. Assange's supporters hail him as a hero of journalism who is being prosecuted for exposing U.S. wrongdoing.
Britain gave the go-ahead for his extradition in 2022, and he has since been trying to overturn that decision. His first attempt to appeal against the transfer was refused, leading to a two-day hearing last month when his lawyers sought to reverse that judgment. Two senior judges will hand down their ruling at 1030 GMT on Tuesday.
If Assange wins, a full appeal hearing will be held to again consider his challenge. If he loses, his last option would be an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/julian-assange-appeal-ruling-be-given-by-london-high-court-tuesday-2024-03-25/
