Julian Assange asks top UK court to reopen case
LONDON - The Associated Press
Julian Assange WikiLeaks founder leaves the Supreme Court in London, in this, Feb. 1, 2012 file photo. UK Supreme Court backed the extradition of Julian Assange to Sweden Wednesday May 30, 2012. AP Photo
WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange has asked Britain's Supreme Court to reopen his extradition case, an unusual legal maneuver aimed at blocking his removal to Sweden.British Supreme Court spokesman Ben Wilson confirmed today that papers had been lodged in the high-profile case, which has dragged on for the better part of two years.
Last month, the Supreme Court rejected Assange's last-ditch appeal against extradition to Sweden, where he's wanted on sex crimes allegations.
But his lawyers challenged the validity of the judgment and, in a virtually unheard-of move, have asked the top court to reopen the case.
Wilson said that justices could choose to reject the challenge, ask for written submissions, or hold a new hearing. He said he couldn't give a timescale for any eventual decision.
