Hybrid justice: the extraordinary chambers in the courts of Cambodia

Abstract

Over three decades after the fall of the Pol Pot regime, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)--a UN-backed tribunal fusing Cambodian and international law, procedure, and personnel--was established to try key Khmer Rouge officials for atrocities they committed. In Hybrid Justice , John D. Ciorciari and Anne Heindel trace the tribunal's evolution and reveal the influence of contemporary local political forces on its unique form and function. Although international legal norms have largely been observed, political wrangling between national and international actors has greatly influenced the pace, jurisdictional scope, and perceived legitimacy of the court's proceedings. After examining the ECCC's performance in judicial affairs, administration, public outreach, and victim participation, the authors offer preliminary assessments of its contributions to justice, truth, and reconciliation. In the conclusion, they discuss apparent strengths and shortcomings of the hybrid model as an alternative to domestic or fully international tribunals.