Retired judge Mitei joins ICC

Friday, 25 February 2011 00:04 BY NZAU MUSAU

RETIRED judge Johnson Mitei is the latest addition to the list of Kenyan lawyers accredited to the International Criminal Court. Mitei, who retired in 2003 during the infamous Ringera radical surgery, received a notification admitting him to the list of counsel on Wednesday written by the court’s counsel support boss Esteban Peralta Losilla.

Former director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor was admitted earlier this year. Mitei who was admitted to the bar in 1980 had made his application last year in September. “On behalf of the registrar of the ICC, I'm pleased to inform you that after review of your application in the list of counsel, you meet the requirements set forth in the Rule 22 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and Regulation 67 of the Regulations of the Court.” “I hereby grant your request to be included in the list of counsel,” a letter sent to Mitei who has since been engaging in private law practice read.

Besides Murgor, the other nine Kenyan lawyers already accredited to the court are Prof Githu Muigai, Mbuthi Gathenji, Mary Wambui Njogu, Wilfred Nderitu, Chana Sureta, Boniface Njiru, Arthur Igeria, Kennedy Ogetto and Albert Kamunde. Mitei said it was a great honour for him to be admitted to an international court.

According to postings in ICC’s website, lawyers who wish to practice before the court, whether as duty counsel, ad hoc counsel, defence counsel or as legal representatives of victims must first be accredited by the court’s registrar. “These prerequisites to practicing before the court are designed to guarantee that every person in need of legal representation implicated in ICC proceedings has available to him or her a pool of highly competent counsel to ensure quality legal representation,” ICC states. “It is mandatory that those applying must meet the criteria of admission to the list of counsel created and maintained by the Registrar in accordance with Rule 21(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence,” ICC states in its official website.

Conditions set under this section include that a counsel for the defence shall have established competence in international or criminal law and procedure.