Guantanamo: What Fate Awaits 17 Detainees Cleared of Terrorism Charges?

Yesterday, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. reversed a lower court ruling that would have immediately transferred and released into the United States 17 detainees who have been cleared of terrorism charges after seven years of detention at the Guantanamo military base. In Kiyemba v. Obama, the court asserted that the detainees have a […]

The International Criminal Court in a New Era with ICC President Philippe Kirsch and Judge Patricia Wald

Last Friday, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Philippe Kirsch, President of the International Criminal Court, and Judge Patricia Wald, former Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, spoke on the future of the ICC and the upcoming review conference of the Rome Statute. The following provides a summary of what Mr. […]

Violence Against Women in Conflict and the Effect of International Law

Mercedeh Momeni, an international law attorney and women’s rights advocate, shared her thoughts on combating violence against women and the effect of international law at a luncheon attended by roughly 50 people. The luncheon was sponsored by the United Nations Association in Washington, D.C. and the Africa Interest Group of the Young Professionals for International […]

Accountability of Civilian Contractors in the U.S. Justice and Police Civilian Response Corps for International Crises

The U.S. Department of State seeks to establish a funding mechanism under its auspices for a permanent “Civilian Response Corps,” staffed by a core of federal employees and a reserve of civilian experts. These specialists would deploy to the world’s hot spots of low-intensity armed conflicts and post-conflict situations to provide police, corrections, criminal justice, […]

Inaugural Oath: Is Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution Symbolic or Legally Significant?

Yesterday, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts erred in delivering the constitutionally prescribed oath of office to President-elect Barack Obama. In an apparent effort to avoid public offense to the Chief Justice, Obama repeated the incorrect phrasing. The 35-word oath is the only sentence given in quotes in the U.S. Constitution. Just last week, […]

Institutional Mechanisms to Prevent Mass-Scale Atrocities with U.S. Ambassador Williamson

On Thursday, at an event sponsored by the American Society of International Law, U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues Clint Williamson identified four ways that governments can marshal efforts and resources to prevent mass-scale atrocities. He intends these efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to potential crises. Amb. Williamson […]

Flying the U.S. Flag: Freedom of Speech and Private Contracts

Today, July 4th, is one of the rare days that I am allowed to fly the flag. Last month, ironically two days before national Flag Day in the United States, I received a notice from my condominium homeowners association prohibiting residents from displaying the U.S. flag from the exterior of our homes except on a […]

Nuremberg: Birth of International Law

Over 200 participants gathered today at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. for an all-day program to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the military trials held at Nuremberg from 1945-1949. Nuremberg prosecutors Henry King, Benjamin Ferencz, and Whitney Harris told their gripping stories, capturing in detail the first trials in history for crimes against humanity. Nuremberg’s […]

UN Criminal Courts – Preserving the Records

World-renowned archivist Trudy Huskamp Peterson is on a campaign for the preservation of and access to records of the temporary international criminal courts. She spoke in Washington, D.C. on 31 March 2006 at the American Society of International Law, during its centennial meeting, and again on 15 June 2006 at a private lunch. She addressed […]

Uganda Lobby Day – Delaying International Justice for Peace?

Today, human rights activists will meet with representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to bring attention to the Juba peace talks between the Ugandan government and the insurgent Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels. The activists seek additional humanitarian aid and high-level U.S. support for the peace talks, which are being mediated by the government […]