Law Commons^™

Foreword, Jacob Walker

Washington International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Dangers Of Protectionism In Free Trade, Jacob Walker

Washington International Law Journal

The recent establishment of large mega-free trade agreements has led to the potential for the rapid economic development of nations through the inclusion of provisions that lower tariff rates on goods crossing borders. Some countries, such as India, have shied away from these agreements in favor of protectionist strategies, which has led to inconsistencies in treaty negotiations and economic decline. India used protectionist strategies as part of its domestic plan, which has led it to withdraw from free trade agreements and weakened its regional partnerships. This comment examines the Foreign Direct Investment flowing into India before and after its withdrawal …

Inclusion Of Visually Impaired And Deaf Students In Kenya: A Call For Action, Edwin O. Abuya, Jane W. Githinji

Washington International Law Journal

Drawing on field data, this Article reviews the experiences of visually impaired and deaf students (VIDS) in select universities in Kenya. The paper argues that, unlike able bodied students, these learners face discrimination in these institutions. The Article focuses on three spaces where VIDS are excluded: the admission process, the learning, and the examination environments. To counter the unfair treatment, the paper proposes three solutions that VIDS and stakeholders should consider. These are consistent with legal requirements on access to education by VIDS. Firstly, course instructors should be robustly engaged with. Further, universities should provide adequate and timely information should …

The Mutual Legal Assistance Regime In Afghanistan: Assessing Compliance With International Law And Exposing Loopholes (2001-2021), Abdul M. Hazim

Washington International Law Journal

To constrain transnational crime effectively and strengthen mutual legal assistance mechanisms among member states, the United Nations adopted four Suppression Conventions: the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, the 1999 UN International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the 2003 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the 2005 UN Convention against Corruption. Ratified globally, these conventions contain many similar or identical mutual legal assistance obligations and non-mandatory measures with which state parties either must or should comply. Afghanistan is a state party to all four UN Suppression Conventions.

This article …

Breaking Down Digital Walls: The Interface Of International Trade Law And Online Content Regulation Through The Lens Of The Chinese Vpn Measure, Neha Mishra

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

The interface of international trade law and online content regulation is problematic and complex. This Article examines the consistency of the regulation pertaining to Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in China with WTO law. It argues that although WTO law may be effective in disciplining protectionist aspects of online content regulations, they can neither scrutinize domestic values underlying such regulations nor guarantee the free flow of online content. Thus, existing rules contained in international trade agreements play a limited role in balancing domestic socio-cultural and political values vis-à-vis online censorship with an open, globally interconnected internet enabling seamless digital flows. …

Tailspin: Examining The Distortive Effects Of The Airbus-Boeing Duopoly On Trade Dispute Resolution Between The United States And European Union, Sam Bhat

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

This Note surveys the perverse effects of the Airbus–Boeing dispute on international trade, examining how this unique and unprecedented duopoly challenges WTO agreements regarding state assistance to domestic manufacturers of large civil aircraft. This trade dispute has precipitated significant consequences for industries unrelated to aircraft manufacturing on both sides of the Atlantic. Theoretically, the WTO’s dispute resolution framework is designed to maintain an undistorted status quo between member states. The case of Airbus–Boeing, however, has shown that a duopoly conflict masquerading as a WTO dispute leads to escalating tariffs with substantial repercussions. This is the costliest dispute in the history …

Invaluable: Value Added Tax, Post-Colonialism, & The United States Of America, Travis Henry-Reid

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

Value-added tax is occasionally proffered as an alternative or even an addition to the federal income tax system. Value-added tax, or VAT, is widely accepted throughout Europe and indeed the world, but the United States remains a notable exception. This choice remains an intriguing one to revisit from time to time. This Note, however, will argue that VAT is arguably a by-product of the colonial frameworks that once dominated our global consciousness, and therefore, that VAT is not right for the United States. The Note will, where appropriate, compare and contrast key differences between the system, or systems, of taxation …

Is Investment Arbitration An Effective Alternative To Court Litigation? Towards A Smart Mix Of Litigation And Arbitration In Resolving Investment Disputes, Wanli Ma, Michael Faure

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

This article analyzes litigation and arbitration as commonly used methods for dispute resolution, more particularly between foreign investors and host states. It compares investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) via investor-state arbitration with dispute resolution via domestic courts in the host state. The article adopts a goal-based approach for assessing the effectiveness of international adjudication and analyzes the extent to which the current ISDS system is aligned with its predetermined goals. The article starts by identifying four goals of ISDS: 1) fair and efficient dispute resolution, 2) norm compliance, 3) facilitating the objectives of the investment law regime, and 4) legitimizing the …

Reforming Copyright Or Toward Another Science? – A Morehuman Rights-Oriented Approach Under The Rebspa Inconstructing A “Right To Research” For Scholarly Publishing, Klaus D. Beiter

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

This article identifies copyright impediments existing in the sphere of science, and then tentatively suggests how such impediments may be overcome. It focuses on scholarly publishing only, and here primarily on digital content, and specifically asks whether expensive commercial scholarly publishers continue to “add value” to research in the digital era. The deficits of copyright law and potential solutions thereto are assessed in the light of the right of everyone “to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications” (REBSPA), as laid down in Article 15(1)(b) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) of 1966. …

The Largest Global Producers Of E-Waste And The Need For Change, Jane Chan

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

E-waste, short for electronic waste, is a term used to describe end-of-life electronic products. In recent years there has been a sharp rise in the demand for electronic products, and production has ramped up to meet the demand. A landslide of e-waste is being generated in tandem, exacerbated by increased global access to electronic devices, quickening innovation rates, and device obsolescence. According to projections by the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2020, e-waste is the most rapidly growing domestic waste-stream in the world. Due to the hazardous nature of the components contained in many electronic products, the proper handling of e-waste …

Lost Paradise: Colombia’S Failed Promise To Protect Human Rights Defenders, Yessenia Gonzalez

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

On November 24, 2016, Colombia ended a half-century civil war with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) with the signing of the Peace Accord. While there was hope that there would be a new era of peace and reconciliation, Colombia is consistently ranked as the most dangerous country in the world for human rights defenders. As a party to core international human rights treaties that protect the rights to life, physical integrity, and the right to defend human rights, Colombia is obligated to protect these rights and take the necessary preventative measures to protect human rights defenders. Accordingly, Colombia …

Domestic Terrorism Classification In The United States V. Canada And The United Kingdom, Michelle Hayek

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

For the past two decades, discourse on terrorism (both global and domestic) has been commonplace throughout the international sphere. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, many nations have followed suit in launching counterterrorism operations to identify and prevent attacks by both radical groups and lone actors. While the common narrative has focused on “why” terrorist actors commit heinous acts and “how” to best prevent future incidents from emerging, it is important to analyze the legal nuances between prosecuting domestic versus international terrorists. With the rise on “homegrown” domestic lone actors, nations have had to reevaluate and adapt counterterrorism statutes …

Contracting Against Slavery: Corporate Accountability For Human Rights Supply Chain Violations, Alexandra Hyken

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

The United States Supreme Court decision in Nestlé USA, Inc. v. Doe effectively closed the door for forced laborers in the global supply chain to sue corporations headquartered in the United States for aiding and abetting in their human trafficking under the Alien Tort Statute. At the same time, however, the European Union and Canada are passing legislative measures that increase corporate accountability for human rights supply chain violations. This note argues that, in light of the Nestlé decision, contracts can be an effective mechanism for corporate accountability in the United States and that multi-national corporations will be incentivized to …

Embracing The End: A Comparative Analysis Of Medical Aid In Dying In Canada And The United States, Joel Krinsky

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

Since the late nineteenth century, debate has unfolded over the use of euthanasia and physician-assisted death to alleviate the suffering of individuals with medical illnesses. The controversy surrounding the issue persists and its implications are significant. While most countries prohibit Aid in Dying (AID), legalization of the practice has expanded globally in recent years. Canada and the United States (US) are two such jurisdictions that have expanded access to AID. Canada has federally legalized the practice, which the country refers to as Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), and in 2021, the country expanded the eligibility criteria for individuals seeking access …

Recommended Amendments To The Truth And Reconciliation Act As The Government Of Nepal Considers Prosecuting 65,411 Human Rights Cases From The Armed Conflict (1996- 2006), Sophia Ottoni-Wilhelm

Brooklyn Journal of International Law

The bloody Armed Conflict in Nepal (1996-2006) left an estimated 16,729 dead, 78,689 displaced, and 2,506 victims of enforced disappearance. In the seventeen years since the resolution of the Conflict, none of the 65,411 complaints brought by Conflict victims and their families have been resolved. This article argues that the Truth and Reconciliation Act (the Act) can be blamed for the stalled justice process. The Act, which created two commissions charged with the investigation and prosecution of Conflict crimes—Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission on the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP)—must be amended so that victims and …

The Concept Of “Elderly Citizens” In The Indonesian Constitution: A Critical Analysis, Ari Wahyudi Hertanto, Satya Arinanto, Jufrina Rizal

Indonesia Law Review

Human existence is the most important element of the law and the state. They contribute greatly to the growth and development of a nation. Despite their great contribution, all human beings will experience a gradual decrease in their physical and psychological capacity due to ageing. According to the latest Central Statistics Agency report, there exists 29.3 million elderly citizens in Indonesia. This figure is equivalent to 10.82% of the total population. To anticipate this demographic condition, the government ought to ensure the welfare of its elderly citizens in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution. However, the 1945 Constitution …

The Williams Way: Why Roger Williams’ Philosophy Of Religious Liberty Remains Imperative Today, Michael Zigarelli

Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal

To travel the road of religious freedom, a society requires firm guardrails. To the left of the road looms the cliff of “state suppression of religion.” To the right looms the cliff of “state establishment of religion.” During the life of Roger Williams (1603?-1683), the problem in the American colonies was the latter, the inextricable entanglement of religion and civil authority. Known as “The New England Way” in Williams’ colony of Massachusetts Bay, its main tenet of governance was that social stability required religious uniformity. Williams could not disagree more, embarking on a life’s mission to proclaim that government possesses …

Campuses Or Courtrooms? Government Involvement In U.S. And U.K. University Sexual Misconduct Response, Courtney H. Robinson

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Freedom And Whisky: The Renewed Case For Scottish Independence In A Post-Brexit Europe, Emily P. Johnson

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Do You Need Legs To Stand? Wild Rice Stands In Trial And An Examination Of The Use Of Legal Personhood To Protect The Rights Of Nature In Court, Anna C. Scartz

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Roots Of Rights: Where Do Courts Find Constitutional Support For A Woman’S Right To Choose Or A Fetal Right To Life?, Kathleen M. Mcgean

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Concept Of “Investment” At The Dawn Of The Digital Era, Dmitry A. Pentsov

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

New methods of doing international business, which have appeared in the process of digital transformation of economic and social life, have not gone unnoticed by a number of States that use tax and administrative methods to regulate them. One possible way to protect the interests of operators of digital business models from such regulation could be bringing claims against these States on the basis of bilateral and multilateral treaties for the promotion and protection of investments. Among the mandatory conditions for the presentation of such claims is the presence in the territory of a host State of protected “investments” within …

Conflict Resolution Procedures Within The Courtroom: Between The Adversarial And Inquisitorial Traditions, Amos Gabrieli, Michal Alberstein

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

Modern courts have evolved around two central legal traditions—the adversarial and the inquisitorial. The two traditions have historically reflected different approaches towards consent and authority or towards conflict resolution and strict application of the law. Yet with the blurring of boundaries between the two legal traditions, and alongside various reforms in adversarial and inquisitorial legal systems, new practices of judicial conflict resolution within the courtroom have developed. This Article will compare the two legal traditions and examine the assimilation of ideologies and procedures typical to conflict resolution processes into the work of judges, as they strive to end civil legal …

Tortious Liability In China’S Motorsports Industry, Hui Jing, Chen Gengzhao, Sun Bing

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

In 2020, the Chinese Civil Code came into effect. Article 1176 of the code offers a statutory defense for those participating in “a recreational or sports activity carrying certain risk” when they cause injury to other participants. However, the Chinese Civil Code does not specify how or to what extent Article 1176 may be relied upon as a statutory defense in assessing the tortious liability of the organizers of such recreational or sports activities. The courts in China have long sought to develop a principled approach to applying the voluntary assumption of risk defense to such organizers. This Article provides …

Attributing Criminal Responsibility For The Crime Of Aggression, Nikola R. Hajdin

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

To hold a person criminally responsible, the prosecution must prove that his conduct violated (without justification) a prohibitory norm of the criminal code and that he is culpable for such wrongdoing. In international criminal law, wrongfulness and culpability are assessed through the prisms of material (actus reus) and mental (mens rea) elements, respectively. Also called “objective attribution,” ascribing wrongfulness requires a causal link between individual conduct and criminal consequences. Attributing culpability, or “subjective attribution,” on the other hand, consists of establishing mental links between the perpetrator and the occurrence he has caused and the situation in which such an event …

Table Of Contents, Masthead, And Dedication, Georgia Journal Of International And Comparative Law

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Do All Dogs Go To Heaven? How Our Secular Culture Views Death, Bruce Ledewitz

Newspaper Columns

Collected biweekly contributions to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site.

24-1, 2022 Masthead

San Diego International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

End Crime With Harm? Castration For Sexual Offenders In Hong Kong, Max Hua Chen

San Diego International Law Journal

The issue of post-conviction treatment of sex offenders has been the subject of debate and changes to State legislation, particularly in respect of paedophile offences. One such treatment method is through chemical or physical castration on either a mandatory or a voluntary basis. In this regard, some States have implemented these measures for certain paedophile offences. Hong Kong (HK) has no such laws in place. Researchers such as William Winslade and his colleagues highlighted that whilst paedophilia may not be a stringently defined condition, it is one which involves a “reinforcing [pattern] of sexual behaviors,” with the result that sexual …

Long Live Joint Criminal Enterprise: With A Particular Reference To Tadić’S Interactive Construction Between “The Beast” And Specific Direction, Miguel Ângelo Loureiro Manero De Lemos

San Diego International Law Journal

The idea that Joint Criminal Enterprise, in particular its extended version, contravenes fundamental principles of criminal law has gained track. Thus, not only did the International Criminal Court distance itself from the construct but, today, the widely held view is that the extended version should be discarded, not least because it is not grounded in customary international law. This Article challenges that view. While addressing scholarly criticism towards Joint Criminal Enterprise, and demonstrating why the “beast” is a solid construction, it argues that prosecutors and judges must look past the written provisions of the Statute of the International Criminal Court …