UK court formally issues order to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to United States

The case will now go to Britain’s interior minister for a decision, though the WikiLeaks founder still has legal avenues of appeal

The US has asked British authorities to extradite Assange so he can stand trial on 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse

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Supporters and activists hold placards outside Westminster Magistrates court in London on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:07pm, 20 Apr 2022Updated: 9:29pm, 20 Apr 2022

A British judge on Wednesday formally approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States to face spying charges. The case will now go to Britain’s interior minister for a decision, though the WikiLeaks founder still has legal avenues of appeal.

The order, which brings and end to the years’-long extradition battle closer, comes after the UK Supreme Court last month refused Assange permission to appeal against a lower court’s ruling that he could be extradited.

District Judge Paul Goldspring issued the order in a brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, as Assange watched by video link from Belmarsh Prison and his supporters rallied outside the courthouse, demanding he be freed.

Supporters of Julian Assange display signs and a banner, outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain December 10, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Home Secretary Priti Patel will now decide whether to grant the extradition.

The move does not exhaust the legal options for Assange, who has sought for years to avoid a trial in the US on charges related to WikiLeaks’ publication of a huge trove of classified documents more than a decade ago.

His lawyers have four weeks to make submissions to Patel, and can also seek to appeal to the High Court.

Assange lawyer Mark Summers told the court that the legal team had “serious submissions” to make.