Former president Rodrigo Duterte has appointed prominent British barrister Peter Haynes as his new lead counsel before the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the withdrawal of lawyers Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs from the defense team. Haynes is widely regarded as one of the leading practitioners in international criminal and humanitarian law, bringing more than 25 years of experience before tribunals in The Hague, including the ICC, the International Criminal T

In the ruling titled “Decision on Request to Withdraw as Counsel for Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” the Chamber stated that Kaufman’s withdrawal would not result in procedural prejudice or delays in the proceedings, citing assurances that a replacement counsel is prepared to immediately assume representation of the former president. The International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III has officially granted lawyer Nicholas Kaufman permission to withdraw as lead defense counsel for

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is set to lose the face of his ICC defense team after lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman formally requested to withdraw from the crimes against humanity case weeks before a key court proceeding. In a filing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday, the British-Israeli lawyer revealed that his departure comes at the request of the former president himself. The departure follows a meeting between Kaufman and Duterte on May 7, where the for