WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday for the moment has refused to allow a Washington lawyer to represent Saddam Hussein before the justices.
In a one-line order, the court denied a motion filed by attorney Curtis Doebbler to proceed as if Saddam were a pauper -- someone who cannot afford to pay the fees at the high court -- without an affidavit on his finances.
That effectively blocks any action on Saddam's part at the Supreme Court. A putative "pro se" petition -- one considered legally as filed by Saddam himself -- cannot now be accepted by the justices.
It is not clear whether the Supreme Court even has jurisdiction over Saddam. After toppling the Iraqi regime and capturing Saddam, the U.S. military turned him over to the "legal" custody of the Iraqi government, but kept physical custody.
The Iraqis plan to try Saddam before a tribunal for crimes against humanity.
Doebbler said he is one of 20 attorneys worldwide authorized to act for the former dictator by the Saddam family.
