by Sophie Mann at Just the News
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday won the first part of his legal battle to overturn a U.K. court ruling that opened the way for his extradition to the U.S., where he would stand trial on espionage charges.
The High Court in London granted Assange permission to appeal his case to the U.K. Supreme Court, though the Supreme Court must agree to hear the case before it can move forward, according to the Associated Press.
“Make no mistake, we won today in court,” said Stella Morris, Assange’s fiancee.
The High Court typically requires about two months to decide whether it will accept an appeal case.
Last year, a London district court judge rejected an extradition request from the U.S. on the grounds that he believed Assange might kill himself if subjected to the harsh circumstances of U.S. prison conditions. Last month, the High Court overturned that ruling.
Despite retroactive assurances from the U.S. that the WikiLeaks founder would not face the severe treatment, Assange’s lawyers will now argue extradition will put their client’s physical and mental health in jeopardy and the U.S. government’s promise is meaningless due to its conditional nature.
The U.S. has been fighting for Assange’s extradition…
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