War Crimes Prosecutor Named to Canadian Supreme Court

Louise Arbour, the chief prosecutor of the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday, just as her investigators prepared to move into Kosovo to seek evidence of war crimes there.

Arbour, 52, has become internationally known for her handling of the Balkan war crimes investigation. Two weeks ago, she issued a controversial indictment of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for alleged crimes against humanity.

Her appointment to fill a vacancy on Canada’s Supreme Court, effective Sept. 15, deals a blow to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia as it strives to enhance its clout and as its investigators prepare to enter Kosovo along with the international peacekeeping force.

A criminal law specialist and veteran judge from Ontario, Arbour has been considered a prime Supreme Court candidate for several years.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien appointed her to fill a seat vacated by the retirement last month of another judge from Ontario. By tradition, seats on Canada’s high court are apportioned geographically, and this was expected to be the only opening for an Ontario judge for many years.

A new chief prosecutor will be chosen by the United Nations Security Council, which created the tribunal in 1993 to investigate war crimes in the former Yugoslav federation. Until the council makes its choice, Arbour’s deputy, Graham Blewitt, is expected to serve as acting prosecutor.