UN war crimes tribunal to hold hearing on substitute judge for Miloševic trial

The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia announced today that it will hold a hearing next week on whether the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Miloševic should continue with a substitute judge.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is considering introducing a substitute judge to sit on the Miloševic trial after the recent resignation, effective on 31 May, of Judge Richard May of the United Kingdom for reasons of ill-health.

Judge May has been the presiding judge of a three-member panel - the other judges are Patrick Robinson of Jamaica and O-gon Kwon of the Republic of Korea - in the Miloševic case.

The ICTY's President, Judge Theodor Meron of the United States, today issued an order scheduling the hearing for next Thursday "to ascertain whether the Accused gives his consent."

A spokesman for the ICTY said today that if Mr. Miloševic opposes the continuation of the trial with a substitute judge, the two judges may decide to proceed regardless if they determine it is still in the best interests of the case. That decision could be appealed.

Mr. Miloševic faces charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in the wars that engulfed Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo during the 1990s. The prosecution closed its case last month and the defence is scheduled to begin its case on 8 June.