Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has scheduled a first status conference on May 27, 2026, in the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte, issuing a detailed order on Thursday that seeks key submissions from parties and participants ahead of trial.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, together with Judges Keebong Paek and Nicolas Guillou, directed the prosecution, defense, victim representatives, and the Registry to file written submissions by May 15, 2026. These submissions will address a broad range of procedural and evidentiary matters.
The chamber’s order primarily aims to determine a trial start date and define the scope of evidence.
Prosecutors have been asked to estimate the number of witnesses, the expected hours of in-court testimony, and the anticipated volume of documentary evidence. They must also indicate whether expert witnesses or video-link testimony will be used.
The defense is not required to provide similar details at this stage but may opt to do so.
Judges also requested updates on whether the prosecution’s investigations remain ongoing, as well as the timing and volume of outstanding disclosures required under the Rome Statute. Any issues related to transcription or translation must likewise be addressed.
The chamber further directed parties to outline proposed witness protection measures, including redactions, delayed disclosure, or referrals to the court’s protection program.
The defense has been asked to state whether it intends to present a case under Rules 79 and 80. Meanwhile, all parties are invited to identify motions that must be resolved before trial, propose agenda items for the status conference, and flag any potential sources of delay.
The Registry has been instructed to submit separate reports on language use, witness protection, and the status of pending victim participation applications.
The status conference will be held at the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague.
