U.S. Appellate Court Upholds Extradition to Canada and Denies Due Process Right to Speedy Trial Despite Delay of 17 Years for Extradition Request

On July 21, 1993, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals by a three to zero vote upheld the extradition of American Thomas James Martin to Canada. This despite Canada’s delay of over seventeen years in seeking his extradition on charges of criminal negligence causing death and leaving the scene of an accident. The Court held that such extradition does not violate his right to due process under the Fifth Amendment…[more]