The Dichotomy between Judicial Economy and Equality of Arms within International and Internationalized Criminal Trials: A Defense Perspective

This Article considers the trend to effectuate judicial economy within international criminal trials juxtaposed with the principle of equality of arms from the standpoint of the defense. It focuses on this juxtaposition as exemplified in contemporary case law of the ICTY. In addressing this issue, the analysis in this Article will build on the assumption that the interrelationship between these two notions must be interpreted in light of two cardinal parameters: first, the protection of the interests of the defense, and second, the principle of independence and non-political use of the notion of judicial economy.