Judge refuses to let Julian Assange leave secure dock at London extradition hearing

February 28, 2020

Julian Assange's extradition hearing may stretch from three out to six weeks after a judge ruled against the WikiLeaks founder sitting with his lawyers in a London court.

District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled against the Australian's application, saying there are "proportionate and sensible" measures to ensure he could talk with his lawyers in private.

She said the 48-year-old is welcome to raise his hand if he can't hear inside the glass-enclosed dock and she will stop proceedings so he can be taken to the holding cells to speak with his lawyers.

The judge is prepared for regular stoppages even if the hearing stretches out to six weeks.

"If that results from the current three weeks for which they are listed to a much longer period then I am very happy to accommodate that," Judge Baraitser said.

The extradition hearing, in London, is expected to last several weeks.

Defence barrister Mark Summers QC earlier argued that defendants are still in custody of the court even if they weren't physically in the dock.

"So far as the legal position is concerned, it is clear that somebody can be in custody in this room without being in that glass cabinet," he said.

"One surrenders to the custody of the court even by surrendering to the dock or with the commencement of the hearing.

"One can be in custody even if one is out wandering in the concourse, enjoying the delights of the court canteen."

He said there was legal precedent for vulnerable defendants, like Assange, to be able to sit alongside their lawyers on the bench.

"What we are seeking is not exceptional treatment or different treatment for anyone facing extradition proceedings," he said.

One argument casts the Wikileaks founder as a villainous hack, the other a symbol of free speech.

When solicitor Gareth Peirce walked to the back of the room to speak with Assange, the judge interrupted Mr Summers to point out the Australian appeared to be having no trouble communicating with his lawyers.

"That's exactly the problem, you see when I'm worried about something.

"I'm not able to guide the representation quickly."

Assange has been charged in the US with 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act and one of conspiring to commit computer intrusion over the leaking and publishing of thousands of classified US diplomatic and military files in 2010.

The charges carry a total sentence of 175 years' imprisonment.

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