Nicholas Kaufman requests to withdraw as lead counsel for Rodrigo Duterte
Nicholas Kaufman is stepping down as lead counsel for Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court.
In a court document dated May 8, Kaufman said his role as counsel for the former Philippine president ended on March 31. Duterte will soon appoint a replacement counsel following a meeting with the defense team; however, the appointee's name has been redacted.
The new counsel, per Kaufman, is "ready, willing, and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed." He added that they have also discussed upcoming deadlines, including the May 27 status conference.
"In light of the aforementioned, in accordance with Regulation 78(1) of the Regulations of the Court, I hereby respectfully request leave to withdraw as Counsel for Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the case of the Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte," Kaufman said.
“I am convinced that the continuity and efficacy of Mr. Duterte’s representation will remain assured through [REDACTED], who has a wealth of experience at the International Criminal Court, and the existing defense team,” he added.
In a separate court document also dated May 8, the ICC Trial Chamber III granted Dov Jacobs’ request to withdraw as Duterte’s associate counsel. The French lawyer said that his decision was made because Duterte plans to restructure his legal team before the ICC trial begins.
Kaufman was named as the lead counsel by Vice President Duterte in March 2025.
Before representing Duterte, the British-Israeli barrister handled cases involving other leaders accused of crimes against humanity, among them former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and former Central African Republic minister Maxime Mokom. Bemba was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity after a four-year trial, but the conviction was later reversed on appeal. In Mokom’s case, the ICC ordered his release after prosecutors abandoned the charges, citing a lack of evidence and witnesses.
On April 23, an ICC pre-trial chamber unanimously confirmed all three counts of murder lodged against Duterte as crimes against humanity, saying they constitute “serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population.”
This moves the case to trial. After the Trial Chamber is formed, it will hold status conferences with the prosecution and defense teams.
Among the details to be ironed out with the case participants is the date for the commencement of the trial. From the conferences, the chamber will also determine which procedures will allow a fair and efficient trial. Additionally, the chamber will decide on the timing and manner of disclosure of evidence.
