Assange to be deported to Sweden

By a 5-2 vote,the Supreme Court denied Assange’s appeal. The decision was read by Nicholas Phillips,the president of the court. All seven judges were present. The ruling turned on whether the Swedish prosecutor who made the extradition request was a competent “judicial authority” under the terms of the European Extradition Treaty. Judge Phillips said the question “has not been easy to resolve.” The finding that the Swedish prosecutor was a competent authority resulted in the court’s decision that the extradition request “has been lawfully made,” he said.

Assange,who was delayed by heavy traffic,was not present for the decision,but there was an audible sigh from WikiLeaks supporters in the court as the ruling was read. Dinah Rose,one of Assange’s lawyers,asked for a two-week delay in implementation of the decision,saying the court appeared to have reached its decision on a fine point of European law that had not been raised by either side at an earlier Supreme Court hearing. The court granted that request. Gareth Peirce,another Assange lawyer,said that once the Supreme Court had considered that point,the Assange team would have seven days to formulate an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. At that point,only a specific stay from the European court would prevent the extradition.

The British government is now expected to set an extradition date within 10 days. WikiLeaks issued a statement asserting Assange faced early moves by the US to extradite him on espionage charges from Britain,Sweden or Australia,depending on Assange’s whereabouts.