HomeA Canadian national was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in February 2026 under a U.S. extradition request alleging wire fraud. Thai police held him at Bangkok Remand Prison while the Ministry of Justice reviewed certification documents. His family had days to locate a specialized extradition attorney familiar with Thailand’s bilateral treaty procedures before the first court hearing was scheduled.
Facing extradition proceedings in Thailand requires legal expertise most criminal defense attorneys simply don’t have. You need someone fluent in both Thai domestic law and bilateral treaties—someone who can navigate treaty interpretation, dual criminality requirements, and Thailand’s strict procedural timelines. General criminal defense experience won’t cut it. Extradition cases operate under the Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and specific bilateral agreements with countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The legal landscape is entirely different from domestic Thai criminal practice.
Extradition defense attorney – a legal practitioner specializing in challenging extradition requests through procedural defenses, treaty interpretation, human rights arguments, and writs of habeas corpus, typically versed in both domestic criminal law and international legal instruments governing state-to-state surrender procedures.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Department of State embassy and consulate websites maintain vetted attorney lists for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, including Thailand-based lawyers with extradition experience
- Thailand’s extradition timeline under bilateral treaties typically requires provisional arrest notification within 48 hours and formal extradition request submission within 60 days—miss this window and the arrested person must be released
- Valid defenses include dual criminality failures (the alleged offense is not criminal under Thai law), political offense exceptions, and human rights bars under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Interstate extradition within the U.S. follows 18 U.S.C. § 3182, requiring the demanding state’s agent to collect the prisoner within 30 days of arrest—this deadline cannot be extended
- Filing a writ of habeas corpus is your primary mechanism for challenging certification of extradition in most jurisdictions
What Is Extradition and When Do You Need a Specialized Attorney in Thailand?
Extradition is the formal process by which one state surrenders a person to another state for prosecution or to serve a sentence. Thailand operates under the Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and maintains bilateral treaties with 23 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and China. The U.S.-Thailand extradition treaty, signed in 1983 and entered into force in 1991, governs most Western extradition cases originating from Thailand.
The moment Thai authorities notify you of a provisional arrest warrant or an Interpol Red Notice, you need a specialized extradition attorney. General criminal defense attorneys in Thailand handle domestic offenses under the Thai Criminal Code. They lack training in treaty interpretation, international human rights law, and the procedural requirements of extradition from Thailand to United States or other treaty partners. The requesting state and the country of refuge operate under different legal frameworks entirely—you need someone who speaks both languages fluently.
Timing matters intensely. Under Article 8 of the U.S.-Thailand treaty, the requesting state must submit a formal extradition request within 60 days of provisional arrest. If they don’t, Thailand must release you. For interstate extradition within the United States, 18 U.S.C. § 3182 sets an even tighter deadline: 30 days. An agent of the demanding state must appear to collect the prisoner within 30 days from arrest. No extension, no exception. The prisoner walks free if that deadline passes.
What crimes are extraditable offenses under Thai law?
Thailand will only extradite for offenses that satisfy dual criminality—meaning the alleged conduct must constitute a crime under both Thai law and the law of the requesting state, with minimum punishment of at least one year imprisonment in both jurisdictions. The U.S.-Thailand treaty covers murder, kidnapping, robbery, fraud, drug trafficking, and cybercrime under the Computer Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007).
But here’s the catch: Thailand refuses extradition for political offenses, military offenses, and purely fiscal offenses like tax evasion. Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution prohibits Interpol involvement in political, military, religious, or racial matters. If your case falls under these categories, your attorney has a complete defense before the case even reaches substantive evidence phase.
Dual criminality failures happen more often than most people realize. When the requesting state alleges conduct that simply isn’t criminal in Thailand, the extradition collapses. Certain speech-related offenses or regulatory violations recognized in Western jurisdictions may have no equivalent Thai criminal statute. Your attorney must meticulously compare charging documents against Thailand’s Criminal Code and special laws to find these gaps.
How long does the extradition process take in Thailand?
The timeline depends on whether the arrest is provisional or follows a formal request. Provisional arrest happens when the requesting state transmits an urgent request through diplomatic channels or Interpol, citing flight risk or ongoing criminal activity. Thai police execute the arrest within 48 hours. Then the requesting state has 60 days to submit the complete formal extradition request—certified charging documents, evidence summaries, treaty citations, the works.
Once the formal request arrives, Thailand’s Attorney General reviews it for treaty compliance and dual criminality. If documents satisfy legal requirements, the Ministry of Justice forwards the case to the Criminal Court with jurisdiction over the arrest location (usually Bangkok Criminal Court for airport arrests). Expect a hearing within 30 to 90 days. During this waiting period, you can file a writ of habeas corpus challenging the legality of detention or the sufficiency of the extradition request.
Interstate extradition within the U.S. operates under a much shorter clock. 18 U.S.C. § 3182 gives the demanding state’s agent exactly 30 days from arrest to appear and collect the prisoner. No flexibility. If no agent appears, the court releases you. This deadline is absolute.
International extradition requests involving countries without bilateral treaties require submission through the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), which coordinates with foreign ministries. Prosecutors seeking extradition must contact OIA at (202) 514-0000 to initiate the process. Materials regarding extradition certification must be submitted to the Office of the Legal Adviser for Law Enforcement and Intelligence (L/LEI) no later than 30 days following issuance of the certification of extradition.
Where to Find Official Attorney Lists for Extradition Cases in Thailand
The U.S. Department of State maintains the only official vetted attorney list for U.S. citizens arrested in Thailand. The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok publishes this list on its website under “Legal Resources,” providing names, contact information, educational background, specialization areas (including extradition and criminal defense), and languages spoken for each listed attorney.
One crucial point: embassy listing doesn’t equal endorsement. The Department of State explicitly states that inclusion on the list does not imply vetting of competence, and the U.S. government bears no responsibility for the quality of services provided. Attorneys pay a nominal fee to be listed, and the embassy removes attorneys only if disciplinary issues surface. You’re filtering based on specialization and experience, not government approval.
Access the current list at the U.S. Embassy Bangkok website (th.usembassy.gov) by navigating to “U.S. Citizen Services” → “Arrests and Detention” → “List of Attorneys.” Updates typically occur annually in January. The British Embassy in Bangkok, Australian Embassy, and Canadian Embassy each publish their own attorney directories for their nationals.
How do I find an attorney if I’m arrested in Thailand?
Request consular notification immediately. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations Article 36, Thai authorities must inform your embassy or consulate of your arrest “without delay” if you request it. Expect a consular visit within 24 to 72 hours at your detention facility (typically Bangkok Remand Prison or provincial police stations).
The consular officer will hand you the embassy attorney list and walk through the extradition process. They cannot recommend specific attorneys or provide legal advice—but they’ll facilitate communication with family members who can retain counsel. Legal Attachés (FBI agents stationed at the embassy) coordinate with Thai police on extradition cases but don’t represent arrested individuals. Their job is liaison, not advocacy.
Contact at least three attorneys from the list. Compare experience, fee structures, and availability. Most specialized extradition attorneys in Bangkok speak English and offer initial consultations by phone or at the detention facility. Lock in representation within 48 hours of arrest if possible. Early representation means your lawyer attends the first court appearance and files preliminary motions before the case gains momentum.
How to Find an Extradition Defense Attorney for Domestic (Interstate) Cases
For U.S. citizens facing interstate extradition within the United States, state bar association referral services are your starting point. Each state bar operates a referral service that filters attorneys by practice area. Specify “criminal defense” and “extradition” or “interstate rendition” when requesting referrals. The American Bar Association maintains a directory of state bar referral services at americanbar.org.
Defending against interstate extradition requires attorneys who know 18 U.S.C. § 3182 inside out—the procedures, how to challenge certification, and what each state actually demands. The process itself is simpler than international extradition. Governors exchange executive warrants. The person arrested can object, but only on narrow grounds: usually that they’re the wrong person, or the paperwork has fatal flaws. Appeal rights? Almost nonexistent. That’s why habeas corpus writs become your primary weapon.
When you’re hiring, dig into state specifics. Some states require the governor to formally certify before extradition happens. Others skip that and proceed on the warrant alone. California’s rules don’t match Florida’s. An attorney licensed in one state may have never touched the other’s extradition statutes. Ask directly: have they fought extradition in *your* state’s courts?
The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) won’t refer you to attorneys, but they will explain federal extradition rules and timelines. Call (202) 514-0000 if you need clarity on treaty requirements. For understanding what an extradition lawyer actually does, our guide spells out the full scope of representation.
What questions should I ask when interviewing extradition attorneys in Thailand?
During consultations, ask about experience with Thailand’s bilateral treaties and extradition defenses. How many cases? Which countries requested extradition? What were the results? Push for specifics—they should cite treaty articles, Thai Extradition Act sections, and recent Thai court rulings that matter to your situation.
Start with experience and track record:
- How many extradition cases have you defended in Thai courts?
- What percentage involved the country trying to extradite me (U.S., UK, Australia, etc.)?
- Have you stopped an extradition? What defense worked?
- Have you filed habeas corpus writs for extradition in Thai courts?
Then move to legal strategy—the defenses that might save you:
- Which defenses could apply to my case? (Dual criminality, political offense, statute of limitations expired.)
- Does my case have grounds to refuse extradition under Thai law or the treaty?
- Can you argue I’d face torture or human rights violations under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights?
- Does my Interpol Red Notice have problems? Can we challenge it through the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files?
Procedural knowledge matters enormously:
- If EU countries are involved, do you understand the European Arrest Warrant Framework Decision?
- Will you work with a lawyer in the requesting country to coordinate strategy?
- Can you represent me through appeals to Thailand’s Court of Appeals or Supreme Court?
Ask about logistics:
- Do you speak English fluently, or will we need interpreters?
- How do you keep clients informed when they’re detained? (Thai prisons restrict calls and visits.)
- Can you work with my family or foreign legal team?
Vague answers or an inability to cite specific statutes and cases? That attorney doesn’t have the specialized knowledge these cases demand.
What Qualifications and Experience Should Your Extradition Attorney in Thailand Have?
Your attorney must hold a valid license from the Lawyers Council of Thailand and know international extradition law, bilateral treaties, and Thai criminal procedure cold. Look for someone who has worked with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Legal Adviser for Law Enforcement and Intelligence (L/LEI)—they review all U.S. extradition requests and shape how those cases unfold. Familiarity with major Thai court decisions and international tribunal rulings is a plus.
Substantive legal knowledge separates experts from novices. They should master Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and every bilateral treaty Thailand has signed. Dual criminality analysis—comparing what’s criminal under Thai law versus the requesting state’s law—must be second nature. They should know Soering v. United Kingdom (1989), the European Court of Human Rights decision that bars extradition when someone faces torture or inhumane treatment. They should understand Interpol Rules on the Processing of Data Article 13, which allows Red Notice challenges based on data accuracy or abuse.
Procedural expertise is equally critical:
- Experience drafting and filing habeas corpus writs in Thai Criminal Courts
- Ability to submit Red Notice deletion requests to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF)
- Knowledge of Thailand’s provisional arrest rules and bail options in extradition cases
- Understanding Thai court appeals and Supreme Court precedents on extradition
For complex cases, dual licensure helps—licensed in Thailand *and* the requesting country (Thai and U.S. bar, for example). Established relationships with co-counsel in major requesting jurisdictions matter. Fluency in English and Thai, plus other languages for European or Asian cases, is a genuine asset.
High-profile extradition victories or published articles on Thai extradition law demonstrate deeper expertise. Always verify credentials through the Lawyers Council of Thailand website and ask for references from past clients.
Can a regular criminal defense attorney handle extradition from Thailand?
No. Extradition is a specialized field. A criminal defense attorney handling domestic assault, theft, or drug cases knows Thai Criminal Procedure Code and evidence rules, but extradition demands knowledge of international treaties, diplomatic protocol, and foreign legal systems they’ve never studied.
Hiring a generalist creates real risks.
They miss defenses. Dual criminality gaps between Thai law and the requesting state’s law go unnoticed. Political offense exceptions or expired statutes of limitations slip past. Procedural errors in the requesting state’s extradition documents get overlooked—and those errors can kill a case.
They make procedural mistakes. Wrong court. Missed deadlines. Documents served on the wrong ministry. Administrative remedies not exhausted before court filing. These aren’t minor slip-ups; they often end the case.
They give bad strategic advice. Maybe they counsel you to accept extradition when strong defenses exist. Maybe they never negotiate with prosecutors in the requesting country for reduced charges or sentencing caps. Maybe they don’t know concurrent CCF challenges to Interpol Red Notices even exist.
If imprisonment is likely or human rights risks are real, hire an attorney who specializes in extradition defense and has a proven track record of wins in Thai courts. This isn’t the area to cut costs or assume any criminal lawyer will do.
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How to Vet and Retain an Extradition Attorney in Thailand (Official Due Diligence Steps)
The U.S. Department of State’s “Retaining A Foreign Attorney” guidance outlines due diligence steps that apply to hiring any attorney abroad, including Thailand. Follow them. They protect you from unqualified practitioners and force clarity on scope, costs, and what you’re actually paying for before you sign anything.
Step 1: Contact multiple attorneys
Reach out to at least three. Use embassy lists or bar association referrals. Email or message them a written description of your situation, then ask about their experience with cases like yours. Most offer a brief initial consultation free to figure out whether they can help.
Step 2: Verify qualifications
Check each attorney’s license through the Lawyers Council of Thailand online registry. Ask for education, years in practice, and specific extradition case experience. Request references from prior clients—many attorneys can share contact information from clients willing to speak with you confidentially.
Step 3: Confirm language fluency and communication methods
If Thai isn’t your language, confirm the attorney speaks English fluently (or your native language). In detention, you’ll have limited phone calls and visits. Discuss communication methods upfront: will they send written updates? How fast do they respond? Will they coordinate with family or your foreign legal team?
Step 4: Understand fee structures
Get a written fee proposal. Extradition cases usually run flat fees or retainers by phase—initial appearance, habeas corpus filing, full trial defense. Know what’s included, what triggers additional charges, and whether appeals require a separate retainer. If the costs surprise you later, it’s too late.
Step 5: Refuse to transfer funds until satisfied
Don’t wire money or sign engagement letters until you fully understand strategy, fees, and timeline. The U.S. Department of State explicitly warns against funding attorneys you haven’t thoroughly vetted. An attorney pressuring you for immediate payment without answering your questions? That’s a red flag.
Step 6: Review the retainer agreement
Before you sign, the engagement letter needs to spell out exactly what work your attorney will do, how much it costs, when you pay, and how either party can end the relationship. Thai retainer agreements should address what happens if the case settles early—will you get unused fees back?—and include a mechanism for resolving disputes between you and your lawyer. One practical trap: if the agreement is only in Thai, you won’t understand the fine print. Request an English translation and read it carefully before signing anything.
How much does an extradition defense attorney in Thailand cost?
Legal fees for extradition defense in Thailand swing widely depending on how complex your case is, which country is requesting your extradition, and how experienced your attorney is. Here’s what you’ll typically encounter:
Provisional arrest and initial hearing:
- ฿150,000 to ฿300,000 (approximately $4,200 to $8,500 USD) covers your representation through the first court appearance and any bail application
- What this includes: document review, an initial strategy session, visits to the detention facility, and courtroom representation
Full extradition defense through trial:
- ฿500,000 to ฿1,500,000 (approximately $14,000 to $42,000 USD) for complete representation—habeas corpus filing, evidentiary hearings, trial, the works
- Cases involving multiple requesting countries or intricate dual criminality analysis will push fees toward the higher end; same for cases requiring extensive witness preparation
Appeals and Supreme Court representation:
- ฿300,000 to ฿800,000 (approximately $8,500 to $22,500 USD) per appellate stage
- Thai extradition decisions can be appealed to the Court of Appeals, and in some circumstances to the Supreme Court, if the lower court made a legal error
Emergency filings and Red Notice challenges:
- ฿200,000 to ฿500,000 (approximately $5,600 to $14,000 USD) when you need an urgent provisional arrest challenge filed within 48 hours of arrest, or a concurrent submission to Interpol’s Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF)
- Some attorneys bill hourly—฿8,000 to ฿15,000 per hour—for discrete work like reviewing documents
What pushes costs up or down:
- U.S. or European cases. These cost more because treaty language is dense and you’ll need a co-counsel in the requesting country.
- Speed matters. Filings demanded within 48 hours of arrest command a premium.
- Multi-stage representation. A retainer covering arrest through final appeal will cost significantly more than representation for a single court appearance.
- Translation work. Foreign documents requiring translation into Thai add up quickly.
Most Thai attorneys want 50% of the fee upfront, with the remainder due at key milestones. International wire transfer is standard. If you have limited funds but family members abroad can help, some attorneys will discuss payment plans—though extradition work is expensive enough that this is not guaranteed.
What Legal Defenses Can an Extradition Attorney Raise on Your Behalf in Thailand?
An experienced extradition attorney in Thailand can deploy multiple defenses rooted in the Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), applicable bilateral treaties, and international human rights law. How strong each defense is depends on the specific facts of your case, the requesting country’s legal system, and how solid the extradition documents are.
Citizenship defense:
Thai nationals cannot be extradited—full stop. Article 7 of the Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) makes this an absolute prohibition. If you hold Thai citizenship (even alongside another nationality), extradition is legally impossible. Thai nationals charged with crimes abroad can only be tried in Thailand. Your attorney will submit your Thai national ID card, passport, or house registration to prove it.
Dual criminality failure:
For extradition to happen, the alleged conduct must be a crime under both Thai law and the requesting state’s law. If what they’re charging you with is legal in Thailand, or would carry less than one year of imprisonment under Thai law, the extradition request collapses. Your attorney will methodically compare the foreign charges against the Thai Criminal Code and relevant special statutes (Computer Crime Act, Money Laundering Act, others) to find the gaps.
Non-extraditable crime:
Some offenses are categorically blocked from extradition under treaties and Thai law: political crimes, military offenses, and purely fiscal crimes like tax evasion. Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution prohibits Interpol involvement in political cases. If the requesting state’s charges are politically motivated or military in nature, your attorney can argue complete defense based on non-extraditable crime status.
Statute of limitations:
If the crime is no longer prosecutable in the requesting state because too much time has passed, Thailand refuses extradition. Your attorney has to research that state’s statute of limitations for the charged offenses and calculate whether it expired before the extradition request arrived. This gets technical—different jurisdictions pause (toll) statutes of limitations when the accused is in flight or hiding, so careful analysis is required.
Writ of habeas corpus (procedural defects):
Since extradition orders generally cannot be appealed, the writ of habeas corpus is your main tool to challenge detention. In Thailand, these challenges typically rest on either mistaken identity or procedural violations—the requesting state failed to meet treaty requirements or didn’t provide required documents. Your attorney files the writ in the Criminal Court that has jurisdiction over your detention, citing specific treaty breaches or documentary gaps.
Human rights bars under Article 3 ECHR:
The landmark case Soering v. United Kingdom (1989) established that extradition violates Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights when the requesting state’s prisons, treatment of prisoners, or legal system pose a genuine risk of torture or inhuman treatment. Thai courts increasingly accept human rights arguments, especially when the requesting country has a documented record of abusing prisoners. Your attorney can present evidence of prison conditions, lack of due process, or torture risk to block extradition.
Interpol Red Notice challenges:
If your arrest stemmed from an Interpol Red Notice, your attorney can challenge the Notice directly through the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF). Article 13 of Interpol’s Rules on the Processing of Data allows you to request deletion based on inaccurate data, non-compliance with Interpol’s Constitution, or human rights violations. If the CCF orders deletion, the Red Notice disappears—and with it, the legal foundation for your arrest.
For cybercrime cases with complex technical allegations, consider consulting an extradition lawyer for cyber-offenses, as these often hinge on jurisdiction and dual criminality issues that require specialized technical knowledge.
What is a writ of habeas corpus in extradition cases?
A writ of habeas corpus (in Thai, คำร้องขอปล่อยตัว, “petition for release”) challenges whether you’re being held lawfully. In extradition cases, it’s your primary—often only—avenue to contest the extradition order in Thai courts. Because Thai law doesn’t give you a general right to appeal extradition decisions, habeas corpus petitions are how you raise legal objections.
Grounds you can argue in habeas corpus relief:
Identity challenges:
Claiming the arrested person is not the individual named in the warrant. This requires concrete evidence—passport records, fingerprints, witness testimony, documents proving the warrant names someone else.
Procedural defects in certification:
Attacking the sufficiency or authenticity of the requesting state’s documents. Missing diplomatic seals, unsigned affidavits, no Thai translation, or absent evidence summaries all count.
Treaty non-compliance:
Arguing the requesting state missed treaty deadlines (like the 60-day formal request window after provisional arrest) or that the alleged crime doesn’t fall within the treaty’s scope.
Constitutional violations:
Asserting extradition violates Thailand’s Constitution—your right to a fair trial, protection against torture, others.
Filing deadlines vary by jurisdiction but must occur while you’re detained. Thai courts typically schedule habeas hearings 15 to 30 days after filing. Success depends on the strength of your legal arguments and the evidence you present. Cases with clear procedural violations or dual criminality failures succeed more often than those relying on factual disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Extradition Defense Attorneys in Thailand
Can I represent myself in an extradition case in Thailand?
Technically, yes. Thai law permits self-representation. Practically, no—don’t do it. Extradition requires deep knowledge of bilateral treaties, Thai statutory law, and international standards. Courts won’t give self-represented defendants any breaks on evidence or procedure. You’ll miss critical defenses, blow filing deadlines, and fail to challenge technical defects in the other country’s documents. When you’re facing potential decades in a foreign prison, that’s a catastrophic risk to take.
What happens if I can’t afford an extradition attorney in Thailand?
Thailand does not fund legal aid for extradition cases except in rare circumstances—capital punishment or indigent Thai nationals. Contact your embassy or consulate immediately. Some embassies have emergency assistance funds for arrested nationals or can help you reach family members who can arrange payment. A handful of international human rights organizations provide pro bono representation in cases involving torture risk or political persecution, but availability is limited and competitive. Most Thai attorneys won’t take extradition cases on contingency or with deferred payment because the work is complex and expensive to execute.
How do I know if an extradition attorney is qualified to handle my case?
Start with the Lawyers Council of Thailand registry. Then ask for case references and dig into specifics: Can they cite the actual article numbers from Thailand’s bilateral treaties? Do they know recent Thai Supreme Court extradition decisions by name? Can they walk you through dual criminality analysis under Thai law?
Watch for red flags. An attorney who can’t identify which treaty applies to your situation, who gives vague answers about their track record, or who pushes you to pay large retainers upfront without explaining strategy – these are warning signs. Interview multiple attorneys and compare their responses side by side. The differences will become obvious quickly.
Can my attorney negotiate with the requesting country to avoid extradition?
Absolutely, sometimes. Experienced extradition attorneys regularly coordinate with defense counsel in the requesting country to work out charge reductions, sentencing caps, or agreements to drop certain counts. The catch: these negotiations run parallel to the formal extradition process, not instead of it. You’re essentially building a fallback option while the case moves through the courts.
The practical payoff can be significant. U.S. prosecutors, for instance, may drop charges that carry mandatory life sentences or agree to concurrent sentencing if you return voluntarily rather than fight extradition in Thai courts. That difference could mean decades. Your attorney should explore these diplomatic paths early, especially if your dual criminality or human rights defenses look shaky on paper.
What is the difference between extradition and deportation in Thailand?
Extradition and deportation sound similar but operate completely differently under Thai law.
Extradition is formal and criminal. Thailand surrenders you to a foreign country under a bilateral treaty so you can face prosecution or serve out a sentence. It requires a treaty, judicial proceedings in Criminal Court, and ministerial sign-off.
Deportation is administrative and civil. Thai immigration authorities expel you for visa violations, illegal entry, or public safety reasons. No treaty required. It follows the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and moves through immigration tribunals, not criminal courts.
Here’s where it gets tricky: you can face both simultaneously. Your case splits between two completely separate processes. If both happen, extradition typically takes priority, which means the criminal route plays out first. Know which forum you’re actually in before your attorney files anything.
