Cablegate: Scsl Prosecutor Nomination

VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #3360 2520545
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 090229Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 7618
INFO RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY 9901
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA PRIORITY 4683
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 6252

UNCLAS STATE 093360

SENSITIVE

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KAWC UN SL NL
SUBJECT: SCSL PROSECUTOR NOMINATION

1. (U) This is an action request - see paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) In a letter dated August 14, 2009, UN Assistant
Secretary-General Peter Taksoe-Jensen requested nominations
of candidates to fill the vacancy of the Prosecutor of the
Special Court for Sierra Leone caused by the resignation of
the current Prosecutor, Mr. Stephen Rapp, effective September
7, 2009. The current opening is to be appointed by the
Secretary-General from nominations by States.

3. (SBU) Action Request: Department requests that USUN reply
to the August 14, 2009 letter from the UN Assistant
Secretary-General along the following lines:

(Standard complimentary opening) and refers to the letter of
Assistant-Secretary General Peter Taksoe-Jensen, dated August
14, 2009, soliciting nominations for the vacancy of the
Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

The Permanent Mission of the United States of America hereby
nominates Brenda Hollis of the United States for the vacant
position of Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Brenda Hollis is perfectly suited to take on the role of
Prosecutor. She currently serves as the Principal Trial
Attorney in the case of Prosecutor v. Charles Taylor, with
overall responsibility for the presentation and carriage of
that important case. She has done an outstanding job leading
the prosecution of that extremely complex, sensitive and
high-profile case. Prior to that, Ms. Hollis served in the
Office of the Prosecutor, United Nations International
Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) from 1994
until 1997. She returned to the ICTY in 1998 through 2002 as
Senior Trial Attorney and Chief, Team Legal Officer. Ms.
Hollis served 22 years in the United States Air Force, first
as an Intelligence Officer and then as a Judge Advocate,
retiring in 1998 with the rank of Colonel. Ms. Hollis
received her undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State
University and her JD from the University of Denver. After
receiving her BA, she served as a public health worker in the
Peace Corps in Senegal and Niger.

In the view of the United States, Brenda Hollis has the
experience, skills and good judgment to take on the
responsibilities of Prosecutor of the Special Court for
Sierra Leone. Her strong leadership on the Charles Taylor
prosecution team makes her an ideal candidate for the
Prosecutor position.

Standard complimentary closing
CLINTON

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