Jacques Semmelman, Partner (New York), and Emily Spencer Munson, Associate (New York), Publish an Article in The Champion

Litigation partner Jacques Semmelman and litigation associate Emily Spencer Munson have collaborated on an article titled “Interpol Red Notices and Diffusions: Powerfuland DangerousTools of Global Law Enforcement,” appearing in the May 2014 issue of The Champion, the magazine published by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). The NACDL is the leading criminal defense bar organization in the United States.

A Red Notice is an alert, issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) at the request of a member nation, that calls upon each of Interpol's 190 member countries to arrest an individual. A Diffusion is similar, but is issued directly by a member nation and disseminated through Interpol. Because Red Notices and Diffusions are commonly enforced at points of entry, a person who is the subject of such an alert faces the risk of arrest or detention when traveling. Red Notices and Diffusions are legitimate tools of law enforcement, but they are susceptible to abuse.

The article describes the framework for the issuance of Red Notices and Diffusions, as well as the procedure for trying to determine whether an individual is the subject of such an alert, and for requesting its cancellation. The article provides examples of successful as well as unsuccessful applications for cancellation, and offers practical guidance for a lawyer whose client is, or might be, the subject of a Red Notice or Diffusion.