2012-06-14 Supreme Court rejects appeal to reopen Assange case

The UK Supreme Court has rejected the appeal by Julian Assange's legal team to reopen his case. The appeal was submitted in written format on June 12, with the decision coming the morning of June 14.

The original decision to extradite Mr Assange was made by the Supreme Court on May 30. But Mr Assange's team argued that, since the ruling was based on the Vienna Convention, a point not discussed in the February hearings, the case should be reopened to allow further submissions on this point. The Supreme Court rejected this notion, saying that Mr Assange's lawyer, Dinah Rose QC, had the opportunity to challenge this point.

The 10 day period in which Mr Assange will be extradited begins 14 days from today. This means his extradition will happen between the 29th of June and the 8th of July.

Julian Assange has currently been detained for 555 days without charge, including 10 he spent in solitary confinement at Wandsworth Prison.

Swedish prisons have been largely criticized for their harsh pre-trial detainment methods. When extradited, Mr Assange will be immediately placed in prison. He will not be able to make bail. In prison, Mr Assange is subject to the following conditions (via Fair Trials International):

  • isolation: meaning that he is held in his cell for up to 23 hours a day;
  • no visits from anyone other than his lawyer or a priest;
  • restrictions on phone calls and written correspondence;
  • limited contact with other detainees; and
  • lack of access to newspapers, radio and television.

The decision by the Supreme Court to extradited Julian Assange further means that anybody can be extradited from the UK to any EU country without charge, evidence, or proper judicial oversight.

Mr Assange's last outlet of appeal is to the European Court of Human Rights, though this is unlikely to stop his extradition.

For further information on the case, see:
Justice for Assange
Justice for Assange - Supreme Court Appeal
Justice for Assange - Irregularities in the Prosecution
UK Supreme Court Agreed Facts of the Assange Case
Jennifer Robinson's Briefing to Canberra MPs re Julian Assange
Christine Assange's Talking Points
Common Misconceptions of the Assange Case
A Brief History of Swedish Sex

You can assist Mr Assange with his legal fees by donating to him via credit card, PayPal, cash, cheque, or bank transfer.

Supporters around the world are planning rallies for July 1.