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Airmen support the Central Criminal Court of Iraq

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL ZONE, Iraq (AFNS) --  Iraqi judges, lawyers and investigators walk through the hallowed halls of the Central Criminal Court of Iraq here. Along these corridors of marble, wood, steel and glass, a small group of U.S. military lawyers move about from office to courtroom.

In accordance with the new security agreement signed between the U.S. and the government of Iraq, all Iraqi detainees are required to be released in a safe and orderly manner or transferred to Iraqi custody pursuant to a judicial order. 

On Feb. 27, Multinational Forces-Iraq and the government of Iraq announced the total number of detainees in coalition custody dropped below 14,000 with an average of 50 detainees being released a day.

A key part to this legal process is a collection of joint expeditionary tasking Airmen with the 732nd Expeditionary Support Squadron who work in the Central Criminal Court of Iraq liaison office. The lawyers and paralegals work side-by-side with coalition servicemembers.

"We get the statements from the servicemember involved," said Capt. Dave Illingworth, a lawyer deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan. "From there we build a criminal case and refer them for an investigative hearing."

Captain Illingworth, a Houston native, serves as a liaison officer to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. He and the other lawyers act as facilitators by bringing together the defendants, witnesses, evidence and experts to court for all cases involving coalition forces.

"We bring anyone detained by coalition forces in Iraq to this court," Captain Illingworth said. "Here, the judges are the fact-finders and hand down the sentencing."

In one room of the courthouse, an Air Force lawyer sits and takes extensive notes during an investigative hearing. With the help of translators, she monitors as an Iraqi investigator and judge question a detainee in a yellow jump suit about a crime he had witnessed while in custody. Meanwhile, a U.S. Soldier stands at the ready.

"We make sure things flow smoothly so charges can be ascertained in the hearings, including asking questions necessary to allow our coalition forces soldiers and local nationals to completely paint the picture of the complaint against the detainee," said Capt. Karen Jordan, a lawyer deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va. "The investigative judge and his investigators have the ability to do further fact finding necessary to send the case to trial. 

"We are working together with the Iraqis with no problems," said the native of Raleigh, N.C. "The best part is defeating the terrorists."

Supporting the lawyers on the team are enlisted paralegals.

"The best part about this is the camaraderie with the different services," said Staff Sgt. Adam McConnaughy, who is a native of Sacramento, Calif. "We all have the same goal to achieve on this mission.

"There is a wide variety of cases that come through here," the sergeant added, who is deployed from MacDill AFB, Fla. "Murder, improvised explosive devices and illegal weapons, for example."

An Iraqi judge sits at his desk in the courthouse, which is covered with casework and a Quran. A bed takes up a corner of the office, which the judge uses during the week instead of going home out of fear for his and his family's safety. He looks around the room and smiles.

"I am happy that with the help of the Americans we can do this," said the judge, who requested to remain unnamed for security purposes. "Things are getting better for us every day." 

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