Bid to Dismiss Demjanjuk Judges Fails
Israel’s supreme court today rejected a defense appeal to dismiss the three judges hearing the war crimes trial of John Demjanjuk, the retired Cleveland auto worker accused of being the sadistic Nazi death camp guard “Ivan the Terrible.”
The defense attorneys charged in their appeal last Sunday that the three Israeli judges hearing the non-jury death penalty trial are biased against them and Demjanjuk.
But High Court of Justice President Meir Shamgar rejected the appeal to disqualify the judges, saying he could find no basis for such action. Shamgar ruled “that the court had displayed neither hostility nor bias,” the Justice Ministry said.
Reacting to the decision, American defense lawyer Mark O’Connor said he has felt a change in the judges’ attitude since the appeal was heard.
“All we’re asking the court to do is understand our feelings,” O’Connor commented. He noted that the case is “very emotional” for both sides.
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