New judge to hear extradition case against Silk Road accused

A different judge will hear the extradition case of a man wanted for trial in the United States over his alleged links to the underground website Silk Road.

Gary Davis (26), of Johnstown Court, Kilpedder, Co Wicklow, is wanted by US authorities to face trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Authorities in the United States have claimed Silk Road is an underground website that hosted a “sprawling black market bazaar” on the internet where items including drugs, firearms and counterfeit money were regularly bought and sold.

Mr Davis is accused of acting as an administrator on the Silk Road website using the name “Libertas”.

He was first arrested on foot of a warrant issued by the High Court last January and is on bail.

Little progress

Counsel for the Attorney General, Ronan Kennedy, asked the High Court on Tuesday whether it was in a position to assign a new judge to hear the extradition case against Mr Davis.

Mr Kennedy said there had been very little progress in the case and he wanted to raise some issues with another judge.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said the court was unsure whether it was in a position to assign a particular judge to hear the case at the moment.

Ms Justice Donnelly, who has only recently been appointed to deal with extradition cases, said she would adjourn the case until March 3rd when another judge would be dealing with the list of extradition cases.

Meanwhile, she said she would make “further enquiries” as to the availability of another judge to hear the case.