Curiosity of US Law - Outlawry lives ?
Glancing at the recent Privy Council case of Knowles v Gov't of USA and Sup't'd't of Prisons of the Bahamas [2006] UKPC 38 (PC), I note a curiosity of US Law, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act 1999. Unless Lord Bingham was joking or essaying satire - and neither seems likely - the President of the US formally states that (s)he considers someone to be a Foreign Narcotics Kingpin, and then they (the reputed FNK) are automatically subjected to various disadvantages and penalties - falling well short of outlawry, it should be said.
This feels like an idea worryingly likely to catch on - not so much in the field of drugs as in those of terrorism (where we already have all those 'killers' at Gitmo) and 'anti-social behaviour.' Interestingly - and Lord Bingham notes his concern re this - being an alleged FNK makes it difficult for you to retain a lawyer to assist you.
This feels like an idea worryingly likely to catch on - not so much in the field of drugs as in those of terrorism (where we already have all those 'killers' at Gitmo) and 'anti-social behaviour.' Interestingly - and Lord Bingham notes his concern re this - being an alleged FNK makes it difficult for you to retain a lawyer to assist you.
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