Trial of Samir Al-Sheikh #4: The Government’s Request: Status Conference

TRIAL OF SAMIR Al SHEIKH

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Trial Monitoring Summary #4

Hearing Date: January 6, 2026

CAUTION: Some testimony may include graphic descriptions of torture, rape or other violent acts. 

Note that this summary is not a verbatim transcript of the trial; it is merely an unofficial summary of the proceedings.

Throughout this summary, [information located in brackets are notes from our trial monitor] and “information placed in quotes are statements made by the witness, judges or counsel.” The names and identifying information of witnesses have been redacted. 

[Note: SJAC provides a summary of the proceedings while redacting certain details to protect witness privacy and to preserve the integrity of the trial.]   

Trial Monitoring reports of the Samir Al Sheikh trial are a result of a partnership between the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) and the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic (LJAC) at LMU Loyola Law School (Los Angeles). Apart from trial monitoring, SJAC also supports authorities seeking to prosecute atrocity crimes committed in Syria by conducting investigative work and connecting witnesses with prosecutors (“case building”). SJAC's trial monitoring team does not share information with SJAC's case building team. Therefore, the latter only has access to the published reports available to the general public. 

Background: 

On January 6, 2026, at the Government’s request, the Court held a status conference before District Court Judge Hernán D. Vera of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California [The case is United States v. Samir Ousman Alsheikh, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. CR 24-00483-HDV.]. 

Samir Ousman Alsheikh (“Alsheikh” or the “Defendant”), was present in the courtroom, along with an Arabic interpreter who spoke directly in real-time to the Defendant through a headset. Joshua O. Mausner, Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, appeared on behalf of the United States (“Government” or “United States”). Nina Marino and Jennifer Lieser appeared on behalf of Mr. Alsheikh. 

Three of what appeared to be Mr. Alsheikh’s family members sat in the first row on the defense side of the courtroom, as well as one other observer that our observers had not seen before. He sat on his own and did not appear to speak with anyone. He did not appear to be Syrian. No one else attended the hearing in support of either side. 

DESCRIPTION OF PROCEEDINGS 

The status conference reviewed a number of important matters. 

The Government’s Notice of Foreign Law 

Judge Vera noted that the Government’s Notice of Foreign Law [Docket 138], filed on December 29, 2025, functioned in essence as a motion or request for judicial notice. He ordered Mr. Alsheikh to file an opposition in two weeks’ time, with the reply due one week after that. The hearing on the motion was likely to be combined with the already-scheduled February 19, 2026 pre-trial conference.

 Scheduling

The final pre-trial conference was scheduled for February 19, 2026, at 1:30pm.

For trial, the Government estimated needing 3-4 court days to present its case in chief. Mr. Alsheikh estimated needing 5-7 court days for the defense. Judge Vera noted that he runs trial days from 9am-5pm with a lunch break from 12-1pm and a 15-minute break in both the morning and afternoon, resulting in a 6.5-hr trial day. In light of Judge Vera’s schedule, trial was scheduled as follows (all dates in 2026):

• March 2: Jury selection, opening statements, witness testimony (time permitting). Counsel to appear by 8:30am to address any outstanding housekeeping.
• March 3-6, 9, 10-12, 13, week of March 16 as needed: Trial. Judge Vera noted that his courtroom was closed for other purposes from March 10-12.

Jury Questionnaire

Counsel for Mr. Alsheikh noted that they planned to request a jury questionnaire in advance of jury selection (voir dire) in light of the unusual and severe nature of the charges/testimony. The parties planned to meet-and-confer regarding the form of the questionnaire, which was to be submitted to the court’s jury manager in sufficient time to prepare for calling potential jurors. Since trial was anticipated to exceed 10 days, potential jurors would need to be pre-qualified. Judge Vera noted that jurors may need to answer the questions in person during voir dire on March 2, which could delay the start of witness testimony to March 3.

Witness Appearances and Testimony

Counsel for Mr. Alsheikh noted that several of his witnesses resided abroad, and thus he requested they be allowed to testify remotely. Judge Vera was inclined to allow it, but ordered the parties to meet and confer.

Additionally, counsel noted that three or four of Alsheikh’s witnesses would seek to provide pseudonymic testimony due to safety concerns. They likely would seek to have both their names and faces redacted. Judge Vera noted that pseudonymic testimony was not ideal and that nothing was being recorded. He ordered the parties to submit briefing on the issue.

Counsel for the Government requested to use the court’s Levantine Arabic interpreter for certain witnesses at trial, and noted that they would be arranging for at least one other interpreter for at least one other witness. Mr. Alsheikh also requested to use the court’s Levantine Arabic interpreter for certain witnesses at trial.

Counsel for Mr. Alsheikh noted that they had not received any response to any of the letters rogatory they had issued last year seeking discovery abroad. Judge Vera noted that the parties had already agreed to delay the trial several times and that, in light of the advanced stage of planning for trial, if counsel felt that the evidence sought was necessary for Mr. Alsheikh’s defense, counsel should timely submit a request for continuance.

The status conference was adjourned. 

Note: Following the January 6 status conference, the court ordered the parties to file their proposed written questionnaire for the jury by February 16, 2026, to be addressed at the pretrial conference set for February 19, 2026. The court’s Jury Department was given a total trial estimate of eight days. However, jurors would be instructed to be available for 16 days.

Additionally, on January 22, 2026, Mr. Alsheikh filed a Motion for Protective Order Authorizing Pseudonymous Testimony, Restricted Disclosure, and Limited Courtroom Closure, which was withdrawn on February 3, 2026.

Finally, the parties began briefing a number of pretrial motions, including motions to exclude evidence [in limine], to be heard at the February 19, 2026 pretrial conference.

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