SG/A/825
 AFR/532
 17 December 2002

SECRETARY-GENERAL AND GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE ANNOUNCE ELECTION OF PRESIDING JUDGES, APPOINTMENT
OF REGISTRAR FOR SPECIAL COURT

NEW YORK, 16 December (UN Headquarters) -- The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone have today announced that the judges of the Appeals and Trial Chambers of the Special Court have each elected a presiding judge. This is in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Agreement on the Establishment of a Special Court for Sierra Leone, signed in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 16 January 2002.

The judges of the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court have elected Geoffrey Robertson, QC as presiding judge of that Chamber. Pursuant to the Agreement, he is also the President of the Special Court.

The judges of the Trial Chamber of the Special Court have elected Professor Bankole Thompson as presiding judge of the Trial Chamber.

In further implementation of the Agreement, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the President of the Special Court has decided to appoint Robin Vincent as Registrar as of 1 January 2003. Mr. Vincent currently serves as Acting Registrar of the Special Court.

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