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WHAT IS A FAIR TRIAL?
A Basic Guide to Legal Standards and PracticeMarch 2000
 
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
 
 
© 2000 by the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America
 Lawyers Committee for Human RightsSince 1978 the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights has worked to promote international humanrights and refugee law and legal procedures in the United States and abroad. The Chairman of theLawyers Committee is William Zabel. Michael H. Posner is its Executive Director. George Black isResearch and Editorial Director.This guide was originally prepared by Jelena Pejic in 1995. It was updated by Vanessa Lesnie in 1999.Copies of this report are available from:Lawyers Committee for Human Rights333 Seventh Avenue, 13th floorNew York, NY 10001 USAtel: (212) 845-5240fax:(212) 845-5299e-mail: comm@lchr.org100 Maryland Avenue, NESuite 500Washington, DC 20002 USAtel: (202) 547-5692fax:(202) 543-5999e-mail: wdc@lchr.orgwww.lchr.orgwww.witness.org
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
PREFACE
......................................................................................................................i
I. INTRODUCTION
....................................................................................................1
II. BASIC FAIR TRIAL CRITERIA
.........................................................................2
A. PRE-TRIAL RIGHTS
.....................................................................................41. The Prohibition on Arbitrary Arrest and Detention.......................................42. The Right to Know the Reasons for Arrest....................................................53. The Right to Legal Counsel...........................................................................54. The Right to a Prompt Appearance Before a Judge to Challenge theLawfulness of Arrest and Detention..............................................................65. The Prohibition of Torture and the Right to Humane Conditions duringPre-trial Detention..........................................................................................86. The Prohibition on Incommunicado Detention............................................10
B. THE HEARING
.............................................................................................111. Equal Access to, and Equality before, the Courts........................................112. The Right to a Fair Hearing.........................................................................123. The Right to a Public Hearing.....................................................................124. The Right to a Competent, Independent and Impartial TribunalEstablished by Law......................................................................................135. The Right to a Presumption of Innocence....................................................156. The Right to Prompt Notice of the Nature and Cause of CriminalCharges.........................................................................................................157. The Right to Adequate Time and Facilities for the Preparation of aDefense.........................................................................................................168. The Right to a Trial without Undue Delay..................................................169. The Right to Defend Oneself in Person or through Legal Counsel.............1710. The Right to Examine Witnesses.................................................................1811. The Right to an Interpreter...........................................................................1912. The Prohibition on Self-incrimination.........................................................1913. The Prohibition on Retroactive Application of Criminal Laws...................2014. The Prohibition on Double Jeopardy...........................................................21
C. POST-TRIAL RIGHTS
.................................................................................211. The Right to Appeal.....................................................................................212. The Right to Compensation for Miscarriage of Justice..............................22
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