Some process issues maybe?

You probably remember last week that the judge in the Saddam Hussein genocide and general evilness trial told Saddam that he didn't think Saddam was a dictator.

Now comes word that the judge has been tossed for lacking impartiality. That seems understandable, I guess. But a government spokesman, Ali Dabbagh, says that "this was a decision by the cabinet of the prime minister."

Isn't something like this supposed to be up to a higher judicial authority?