New ICTY Prosecutor

It is being reported that Serge Brammertz, a Belgian national who leads the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (the Hariri inquiry) and was, until his resignation two weeks ago, the Deputy Prosecutor for Investigations of the International Criminal Court, will replace Carla Del Ponte as Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Though her term ends in September, Del Ponte will likely continue in office until December so that Brammertz can finish his work with the Commission. This is a strong appointment, since the ICTY requires, as it nears the completion of its work, a Chief Prosecutor who can take the reins without the need for on the job training in the doctrinal complexities of international criminal law and the difficult practicalities of international criminal prosecutions.