Lauri Love: The Forum Bar Shows Its Mettle

On 5 February 2017, the UK High Court issued judgment in the case of Love v USA [2018] EWHC 172 (Admin) ("the Judgment"). This was an appeal against the decision at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 September 2016. The case is significant as the first reported case in which the forum bar was successfully argued to prevent extradition. Although the Judgment provides welcome confirmation that the forum bar does have teeth, it makes clear that it will only rarely bite.

The Allegations

Love was accused, in three federal indictments, of carrying out cyber-attacks against computer networks of private companies and US Government agencies between October 2012 and October 2013. It is alleged that he accessed websites to steal, and disseminate publicly, confidential and personally identifiable information.