In this interview Ben Gumpert, QC, Crown Court Judge and former Senior Trial Lawyer at the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), shares valuable insights into the field of international criminal law. He discusses his journey into this area of legal practice, and some of the moments that stand out for him as significant successes. In addition, he discusses the Dominic Ongwen case, including the considerations involved in prosecuting an individual who was forcefully recruited as a child soldier and later became a commander of the militia that abducted him. Gumpert also addresses criticism surrounding the length of proceedings at the ICC and explores strategies for enhancing efficiency within the court’s processes. Lastly, he offers his perspective on the comparative dynamics of his work in a domestic setting versus those faced by judges in international tribunals.

Time stamps:
00:26 Journey into international criminal law
03:15 Challenges and considerations in prosecuting former child soldiers
07:39 Criticisms on length of ICC’s legal processes and how to effectively streamline them
11:14 Comparative dynamics of justice work in a domestic versus international context