Notes to Journalists on the Lord Advocate’s Reference re:
Trial of Trident Three
The LAR Questions
The Four Questions Lodged by the Lord Advocate in his Petition on 21st Jan 2000
- In a trial under Scottish criminal procedure, is it competent to lead evidence as to the content of customary international law as it applies to the United Kingdom?
- Does any rule of customary international law justify a private individual in Scotland in damaging or destroying in pursuit of his or her objection to the United Kingdom’s possession of nuclear weapons, its action in placing such weapons at locations within Scotland or its policies in relation to such weapons?
- Does the belief of an accused person that his or her actions are justified in law constitute a defence to a charge of malicious mischief or theft?
- Is it a general defence to a criminal charge that the offence was committed in order to prevent or bring to an end the commission of an offence by another person?
The Opinion of the Court to the LAR
Opinion of the Court (30 Mar 2001)
Reaction to the Opinion of the Court
Press Briefing: Scottish High Court Ducks Trident Issue (30 Mar 2001)
Initial Response To The Appeal Court Opinion On The Lord Advocate’s Questions by Angie Zelter
The Unlawfulness of the United Kingdom’s Policy of Nuclear Deterrence: The Invalidity of the Scottish High Court’s Decision by Charles Moxley
Statement of Argument by Angie Zelter
Confusion Confounded: The High Court’s Opinion on the Lord Advocate’s Reference in the Greenock Case by Peter Weiss
US International Lawyer’s Comments on the LAR Opinion
Rebuttal To Scottish High Court Claim That Trident Deployment Is Not Illegal In Peacetime
Alyn Ware, Lawyers’ Committee on Nuclear Policy
Kreb Dragonrider by Kreb Dragonrider
Press Releases on the LAR
9 – 13 Oct 2000
Day 1 High Court Trident Hearing Begins
Day 2 ’Trident Three’ Member Tells High Court Trident is Illegal
Day 3 Scottish High Court Hears that Trident is a Crime
Day 4 Trident Illegal, Claims QC
Day 5 Historic Nuclear Weapons Case Adjourned
14 – 16 Nov 2000
Day 6 – Scottish High Court Told UK Nuclear Threat is Real
Day 7 – Britain Must Obey International Law on Trident
Day 8 – Maytime Disarmer Challenges High Court to Declare Trident Illegal
Day 9 – Call to Trident Judges to Face the Obvious
LAR Proceedings
1st Hearing (4 Apr 2000)
Report Of The Lord Advocate’s Reference Procedural Hearing, 4th April 2000
Interlocutor Sheet from 1st Hearing (Decisions of the court)
2nd Hearing (12 Sep 2000)
Petition of Bodil Ulla Roder to the Nobile Officium
Report on the Nobile Officium Hearing
3rd Hearing (29 Sep 2000)
Statement of Argument by Angie Zelter
The LAR Hearing (9 – 13 Oct & 14 – 16 Nov 2000)
First and Second Submission to the Court of Angie Zelter
Submission by Aidan O’Neill QC
Speech Notes by John Mayer on Question 2
LAR Transcripts
(These are the corrected and final versions – days 7 to 9 have not yet been received.)
9 – 13 Oct 2000
Transcript of Day One Preliminary Discussion of Devolution Issues Monday, 9th October, 2000
Transcript of Day One Monday, 9th October, 2000
Transcript of Day Two Tuesday, 10th October, 2000
Transcript of Day Three Wednesday, 11th October, 2000
Transcript of Day Four Thursday, 12th October, 2000
Transcript of Day Five Friday, 13th October, 2000
Transcript of Day Six Tuesday, 14th November, 2000
LAR Documents
Notice of Intention to Raise A Devolution Issue on Behalf of Angie Zelter
Skeleton Argument for Angie Zelter
Index of References for Angie Zelter
On Behalf of Ulla Roder
Notice of Intention to Raise A Devolution Issue on behalf of Ulla Roder
Skeleton Argument for Ulla Roder
Index of References for John Mayer (Advocate for Ulla Roder)
On Behalf of Ellen Moxley
Notice of Intention To Raise A Devolution Issue on Behalf of Ellen Moxley
Skeleton Argument for Ellen Moxley
Procedural Skeletal Argument for Ellen Moxley
G. Moynihan, Amicus Curiae
Note of Argument for G.J.B. Moynihan Q.C., Amicus Curiae
Index of References for G.J.B. Moynihan Q.C., Amicus Curiae
On Behalf of the Crown
Note of Argument for the Crown
Index of References for the Crown
LAR Communications
Record of Communications between Crown, Lord Advocate and Angie Zelter Record of Communications between Court and Angie Zelter
From Angie Zelter, 18th April 2000 To Jim Wallace (18 Apr 2000)
Other Related Communications
Related Correspondence To Chair WCP(UK) from Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, NZ (19 Feb 2001)
Related Correspondence To Robin Cook MP from Chair, WCP(UK) (20 Feb 2001)
Transcripts from the Greenock Sheriff Court
Ruling of Sheriff M. Gimblett (19 – 21 Oct 1999)
Sheriff Gimblett’s Report on the Greenock Trial (21 Aug 2000
Evidence given by Professor Francis Boyle (1 Oct 1999)
Evidence given by Professor Paul Rogers (15 Oct 1999)
Evidence given by Rebecca Johnston (18 Oct 1999)
Other Greenock information on this site
Other Legal Documents & Articles on this Site