Public Education - The International Program

International Visitors

Developing nations, especially ones with emerging or fledgling democracies, look to America to study its institutions, laws and the ingenious balance of powers created by our Founding Fathers. Through various programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), delegates from these nations visit the United States and are put into contact with organizations like Judicial Watch.  Since 2001, Judicial Watch has been a major participant in the Department of State’s IVLP and other leadership exchange programs, having received over 83 visiting delegations.  As the premier Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigator in America today, Judicial Watch is one of the most sought after transparency and accountability organizations for personal meetings with emerging leaders from around the world who are interested in learning how they can stop corruption and demand accountability from their judges, government officials, and political parties.

The United Nations Department of Global Communications

The United Nations Department of Global Communications hosts monthly briefings and other workshops and an annual conference where representatives of NGOs from every corner of the world come together for the purpose of networking and collaborating on solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems, from security issues such as crime and violence, hunger and disease, persecution and war, to major development issues of education, job opportunities, and women’s empowerment.

Judicial Watch is associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC) as a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to promote transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. It fulfills its educational mission through litigation, investigations, and public outreach. Its International Program serves as an integral part of its educational program.

Judicial Watch GTMO Observer Program

Judicial Watch was granted observer status by the Pentagon to observe the arraignment of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in June of 2008. Since the recommencement of the 9/11 hearings at Guantanamo Bay in November 2011, JW has attended 95 percent of the hearings held at the detention facility, as well as Periodic Review Board Proceedings (PRBs) currently held at the Pentagon. Judicial Watch staff and representatives have attended and monitored over 213 hearings to date.

See ARCHIVE section HERE.

Hearing Summaries

Judge Lt. Col. Braun convened the pre-sentencing colloquy sessions of the Zubair-Lillie Military Commissions during the week of 15 January 2024. He then convened the sentencing panel and began the sentencing hearings on 23 January 2024.1 The pre-sentencing colloquy sessions were primarily discussions as to how and when submitted exhibits could be presented to the sentencing panel, logistical difficulties with presenting victim impact statements and character witnesses, confirming the accused’s understanding of their guilty plea, government negotiation over the presentation of sworn and unsworn statements before the panel, and formalization of some of the items conceded as fact.

The judge initiated voir dire for the sentencing panel in the early afternoon of 23 January 2024.

On 24 January 2024, the judge officially opened the sentencing phase of the commissions. Victim family members made their victim impact statements and answered questions from the witness box on 24 January. Two of Zubair’s brothers made their character witness statements on 25 January, followed by Zubair and Lillie making their unsworn statements. The government, the defense for Zubair, and the defense for Lillie made their closing statements to the panel on 26 January, and the judge instructed the sentencing panel on use of the sentencing worksheets and their deliberation obligations before withdrawing. The panel members returned once to receive clarification on the directions to consider recommendation of clemency.

At approximately 3:00 p.m. on 26 January 2024, the sentencing panel sentenced Zubair and Lillie each to 23 years and 0 days of confinement. There was no discussion in court indicating the submission of letters recommending clemency, and there was no announcement by the sentencing panel of a whole-panel recommendation of clemency. The judge thanked and dismissed the panel members and then conferred with the defense counsel teams and the accused to confirm that all were aware of their appellate rights. Part of this discussion revealed that the plea agreements stated that Convening Authority will approve a sentence no longer than six years of confinement, and that Zubair will receive credit for 311 days (about 10 months) of confinement, and Lillie will receive credit for 379 days (about 1 year) of confinement.

See ARCHIVE for full summary

In the Media

The Hill published the following article by Thomas Wheatley, a participant in Judicial Watch’s GTMO Observer Program.

“Trump, honor Obama’s agreement to release Guantanamo detainee,”
The Hill, October 4, 2017

About Thomas Wheatley, https://www2.gmu.edu/news/424386

International Visitors and United Nations DGC Briefing

• 2018
  • Wrap up for 2018
• 2017
  • Summary of UN Event: The Trade in Minors in the Digital Age – September 28, 2017
• 2016
  • Wrap up for 2016
• Countries represented by international visitors to Judicial Watch in 2016:
  Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Albania, Czech Republic, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Togo, Finland, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Vietnam, and South Sudan

• United Nation’s Commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons – September
• Observance of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests – August
• Summary of Meeting with North Africa and the Near East Delegation – February

• 2015
• Wrap up for 2015
• Countries represented by international visitors to Judicial Watch in 2015:
  Macedonia, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, Algeria Brunei, Croatia, Egypt, Hungary, India, Lithuania, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Venezuela

• Summary of UN Briefing, “Global Refugee Crises: Opportunities and Challenges” – November

• Summary of Meeting with Macedonian Delegation – July
• UNESCO Event Summary SREBRENICA – July
• 2014
• Wrap up for 2014
• Countries represented by international visitors to Judicial Watch in 2014:
  China, Argentina, Columbia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Republic of Kosovo, Moldova, Netherlands, Serbia, , Kenya, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras

• Western Hemisphere – September
• 65th UN DPI/NGO Conference – August
• 2013
  • People’s Republic of China – December
  • People’s Republic of China – September
  • Ukraine
  • Meeting with Delegates from Newly Independent States
• 2012
  • A Multi-Regional Project for Young Political Leaders
  • Europe and Eurasia
  • Croatia
  • Israel
  • Philippines
• 2011
  • China
  • France
• 2010
  • Croatia
  • India and Bhutan
  • UN-DPI, Washington, DC – “Rediscovering Preventive Diplomacy for Peace in the World’s Hotspots: A View from the United Nations”
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Vietnam
  • French Counterterrorism Officials
• 2009
  • Indonesia
  • Vietnam
  • Russia
  • North Africa and the Near East
  • Armenia
  • Haiti
  • Morocco
• 2008
  • Thailand
  • Multi-Regional Delegation – The US Judicial System – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burma, Timor-Leste, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nigeria, Malawi, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, People’s Republic of China, South Africa
  • France
  • 11 Latin American Countries – Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
• 2007
  • Czech Republic
  • Vietnam
• 2006
  • Croatia – Law Enforcement and the Judiciary
  • Tanzania
  • France- French Ministry of Justice
  • The Multi-Regional Project
  • Italy
  • Ukraine
  • France
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Cambodia
  • Croatia
  • Fulbright Fellows
  • The Sun Shines in Over 60 Countries Worldwide
• 2005
  • International Visitor Report
  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Kosovo
• 2004
  • Latvia
  • West Africa delegation
  • Czech Republic
  • Ghana
• 2003
  • Brazil
  • Russia
  • Republic of China
• 2002
  • Japan
  • Turkey
• 2001
  • Moldova