Metro Manila, Philippines – International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said former President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to personally attend the next status conference in September unless medical reasons prevent his appearance.
During the second status conference on Tuesday, June 23, Korner said the chamber had excused Duterte from attending the latest hearing because it was expected to be brief.
However, she signaled that the court wants to see the former president at the next major proceeding.
“I rather feel the one on the 7th of September, because by then we’ve had the reports, is likely to be an important one,” Korner said. “For that, certainly, Mr. Haynes, we would expect Mr. Duterte to be here unless there’s some medical issue,” she told Duterte’s counsel, Peter Haynes.
Duterte was absent from the latest hearing after waiving his right to attend. The chamber earlier granted the request and said the signed waiver would be filed in the case record before the proceedings.
At the start of the hearing, Haynes told the court that Duterte understood the judges expected to see him again in future proceedings.
“He’s fully aware that you will expect to see him sooner rather than later,” he told the chamber.
The Sept. 7 conference comes after the court receives the findings of a new medical assessment ordered by the chamber. Under the schedule discussed during the hearing, experts are expected to submit their reports by Aug. 18, with observations from the parties to follow later that month.
Korner indicated that the September hearing could be significant because it will allow judges to consider the results of the expert evaluation and address any related issues before trial preparations enter their final stages.
The chamber also set additional status conferences for Oct. 13 and Nov. 2, although it said those dates could be vacated if no issues require discussion.
