Utah native David Schwendiman is leaving his job as chief war crimes prosecutor in The Hague two years before his four-year term expires because of a U.S. law that limits his tenure.
It marks the second time that Schwendiman, highly regarded as a respected and professional prosecutor, has either had to leave a critical job early or been passed over under unusual circumstances.
The first time came in 2010, when Schwendiman, a longtime prosecutor and administrator in both the Utah attorney general’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office, was yanked from consideration for the U.S. attorney for Utah post after widespread speculation he was a lock for the job.