SCSL PROSECUTOR NOMINATION

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