Comparative and Foreign Law Commons^™

Occupation Failures And The Legality Of Armed Conflict: The Case Of Iraqi Cultural Property, Mary Ellen O'Connell

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Working Paper Series

US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld dismissed the looting of the Iraqi National Museum in April 2003 by remarking, “stuff happens.” In doing so, he gave an early indication that in planning to invade Iraq, the Bush Administration failed to take seriously the legal obligations of an occupying power. Occupying powers have a variety of binding legal obligations, including obligations to stop looting, protect cultural property, and protect persons in detention. Yet, the Administration sent a wholly inadequate force to fulfill those obligations, and, more seriously, the force received no direct and imperative orders to do so. As a result, …

The New Canon: Using Or Misusing Foreign Law To Decide Domestic Intellectual Property Claims , Edward S. Lee

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Working Paper Series

This Article provides the first in-depth analysis of the use of foreign authorities to resolve issues related to domestic statutes, particularly focusing on intellectual property (IP) statutes. The study of IP statutes provides a fertile area of research because of the increased pressures for international protection of IP. The Article criticizes the current approach U.S. courts have taken to using foreign authorities in this area, which can best be described as ad hoc. The Article then sets forth a framework by which U.S. courts can decide, more systematically, when to rely on foreign authorities in IP cases. The Article fills …

Balancing Representation: Special Representation Mechanisms Addressing The Imbalance Of Marginalized Voices In African Legislatures, Stephanie L. Kodish

ExpressO

This report focuses on four different mechanisms designed to provide marginalized groups in Africa with improved legislative representation at the national level. These special representation mechanisms include: proportional representation, guaranteed minority seating, advisory bodies and affirmative gerrymandering . These tools appear a beneficial means through which nations may eliminate discrimination, better safeguard the interests of marginalized people, boost opportunity for political expression and place each member of society on equal footing.

To situate this discussion in its proper context, this paper explores relevant international law, the case for and against special representation and the myriad problems that arise in attempting …

Grutter's First Amendment, Paul Horwitz

University of San Diego Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper Series

Most of the reaction to the Supreme Court's decision affirming the law school affirmative action policy at issue in Grutter v. Bollinger has focused on its Fourteenth Amendment implications. But Grutter also raises significant First Amendment issues. By reaffirming a First Amendment value of "educational autonomy," the Grutter Court raised a host of questions with implications not only for the constitutional law of academic freedom, but for First Amendment jurisprudence generally. This article therefore puts the Fourteenth Amendment to one side and provides a detailed analysis of the First Amendment implications of Grutter.

Some of the consequences of the Court's …

The Hollowness Of The Harm Principle, Steven D. Smith

University of San Diego Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper Series

Among the various instruments in the toolbox of liberalism, the so-called “harm principle,” presented as the central thesis of John Stuart Mill’s classic On Liberty, has been one of the most popular. The harm principle has been widely embraced and invoked in both academic and popular debate about a variety of issues ranging from obscenity to drug regulation to abortion to same-sex marriage, and its influence is discernible in legal arguments and judicial opinions as well. Despite the principle’s apparent irresistibility, this essay argues that the principle is hollow. It is an empty vessel, alluring but without any inherent legal …

Generic Constitutional Law, David S. Law

University of San Diego Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper Series

This paper seeks to articulate and explore the emerging phenomenon of generic constitutional law, here and in other countries. Several explanations are offered for this development. First, constitutional courts face common normative concerns pertaining to countermajoritarianism and, as a result, experience a common need to justify judicial review. These concerns, and the stock responses that courts have developed, amount to a body of generic constitutional theory. Second, courts employ common problem-solving skills in constitutional cases. The use of these skills constitutes what might be called generic constitutional analysis. Third, courts face overlapping influences, largely not of their own making, that …

Creating Rights In The Age Of Global Governance: Mental Maps And Strategic Interests In Europe, Francesca Bignami

ExpressO

This Article takes a first step towards developing a positive theory of rights in institutions of global governance through a study of the European Commission, one of the oldest and most powerful international organizations in existence today. I draw on the extensive political science theory on the European Union, in particular historical institutionalism, to explain the constellation of rights that European citizens are guaranteed today in their relations with their executive branch. Rights against government were created in three phases, each of which was the product of a strategic move by one or more European institutions to preserve authority in …

A Case Study In The Banning Of Political Parties: The Pan-Arab Movement El Ard And The Israeli Supreme Court, Ron Harris

ExpressO

Attempts to outlaw political groups that are alleged to approve the use of violence, to limit the expression of views that challenge the core values of democratic nation-states, and to ban radical, separatist, or religious political parties are more widespread in recent years than at any other time since 1945. They gave rise in the last few years to litigation in Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts in Spain, Germany, Turkey, France, Israel, and Latvia, as well as in the European courts.

The present article tells the story of the encounter in the years 1959-1965 between the Pan-Arab national movement El …

The Rise Of Managerial Judging In International Criminal Law, Maximo Langer

ExpressO

Abstract This article puts the procedure of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in a completely new and previously unexplored light. Rejecting the predominant view of ICTY procedure as a hybrid between the adversarial system of the U.S. and the inquisitorial system of civil law jurisdictions, this article shows that ICTY procedure is best described through a third procedural model that does not fit in either of the two traditional systems. This third procedural model is close to the managerial judging system that has been adopted in U.S. civil procedure. The article then explores some of the …

Evaluating Work: Enforcing Occupational Safety And Health Standards In The United States, Canada And Sweden, Daniel B. Klaff

ExpressO

The United States’ occupational safety and health enforcement system is breaking down. Klaff argues that much of this breakdown has to do with a fundamental lack of worker participation in the United States’ safety and health system. Klaff makes his case by comparing and contrasting the history and enforcement schemes of the United States, Canada, and Sweden. After arguing for economic rights as human rights, Klaff concludes by offering a set of recommendations for the United States’ occupational safety and health system based upon his value-centered analysis.

Democratic Responses To Terrorism: A Comparative Study Of The United States, Israel And India, Arunabha Bhoumik

ExpressO

This paper compares counter-terrorist policies in the United States, Israel and India through the lens of three models of counter-terrorist policies: the war model, the intelligence model, and the criminal justice model. After describing each model, the paper introduces different variables that are relevant in understanding a country’s counter-terrorist policies. Using these variables, the paper attempts to analyze and classify each country’s counter-terrorist policies.

“Which One Of You Did It?” Criminal Liability For “Causing Or Allowing” The Death Of A Child, Lissa Griffin

ExpressO

No abstract provided.

The Lessons Stem Cells Provide Vis-À-Vis Patents: Working Towards An International/Universal Patent Regime. , Charles F. Hall

ExpressO

Biotechnology research has much to promise human society. Beyond the obvious benefits of being able to clone rare animal species or potentially to revitalize extinct species , there are many practical applications that are beneficial to human society directly. Rare blood types might be created from specialized stem cells. The tragedies of Christopher Reeve and others like him who have suffered paralysis from spinal cord trauma may be reversible by using stem cells to replenish damaged and severed nerve cells in the spinal column. The dire shortage of organs for those needing transplants can be reduced by creating an organ …

The Roadmap For Failure: Israeli And Palestinian Discountenance And Misunderstanding, John J. Marciano

ExpressO

As tensions rise with the assassination of key Hamas figures, the situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories call out for committed, reasoned action. In the past, the peace process has consisted of half-hearted attempts to pacify both the Israeli and Palestinian populaces. This is exemplified by the recent Roadmap for peace, which was supported by the United States.

However, the lack of true dedication among the players has arguably resulted in crimes against humanity on both sides. The previous peace plans fail to recognize this, and have perpetuated the violence with cookie-cutter approaches that are not closely tailored to …

Constitutional Crisis Over The Proposed Supreme Court For The United Kingdom, Peter L. Fitzgerald

ExpressO

No abstract provided.

The Right To Family Life And Civil Marriage Under International Law And Its Implementation In The State Of Israel, Yuval Merin

ExpressO

The article deals with the protection of the right to family life under international law and its implementation in the State of Israel on three levels: protection of the family cell as a single unit; protection of the individuals comprising the family unit; and protection of the family in special circumstances (e.g., immigration rights).

The article begins by analyzing the characteristics of the right to family life and examining various definitions of the “family” under international and Israeli law. It also examines what it is that the right to family life encompasses and how it should be classified within the …

Fine Art Online: Digital Imagery And Current International Interpretations Of Ethical Considerations In Copyright Law, Molly A. Torsen

ExpressO

This writing explores the fast-changing intersection of law, technology and ethical considerations related to the visual arts. My paper explores differences in domestic intellectual property laws as well as regional considerations in moral rights law application.

The Rise Of The Code Of Conduct In Japan: Legal Analysis And Prospect, Koji Ishikawa

ExpressO

A code of conduct is a set of rules adopted by transnational corporations (“TNCs”) to regulate mainly working conditions and the management of contract factories. TNCs adopted codes of conduct to cope with the rising criticisms from the public in late 1980s and 1990s about unfair labor practices in contract factories in Third World countries. As the globalization of the economy progressed, like American TNCs, Japanese TNCs also transferred their production bases to developing countries like China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia in search of low wage labor. The development of a code of conduct in Japan is, however, quite different …

Globalization: Panacea For The World Or Conquistador Of International Law And Statehood?, Aaron J. Lodge

ExpressO

Recent powerful occurrences have led to an unprecedented world wide move in the direction of globalization. Globalization involves eliminating trade barriers, exchanging products and services across national borders, and the emergence of truly global corporations. Governments have embraced globalization in hopes of building stronger economies, creating jobs, and providing increased services and products. Debate has centered on the effect of globalization on sovereignty and the effect on individuals. However, the effect of globalization on international law has been largely ignored.

Today, international law—in the form of free trade agreements—enables the globalization process to occur faster than ever before. This article …

Government Policy Towards Innovation In The United States, Canada, And The European Union As Manifested In Patent, Copyright And Competition Laws, Daniel J. Gifford

ExpressO

Abstract: This paper examines a number of government policies related to competition or intellectual property and affecting innovation for their welfare effects. Its premise is that the enhancement of social welfare is included among the purposes of competition and intellectual-property laws. It also assumes that innovation is a major contribution to long-run welfare. The paper then considers whether the policy initiatives under review furthered that purpose. First it considers U.S. and Canadian legislation designed to promote the entry of generic pharmaceutical products into the market and the response (or lack thereof) of both governments to the issue of regulatory delay …

Assisted Reproduction In Germany And The United States: An Essay In Comparative Law And Bioethics , John A. Robertson

ExpressO

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Benjamin Geva, Bank Collections And Payment Transactions, Arnold S. Rosenberg

ExpressO

The author reviews Geva, Bank Collections and Payment Transactions (Oxford University Press, 2001). The book is the first comprehensive work on the comparative law of checks and electronic funds transfers, and attempts to identify a universal "law merchant" governing checks and electronic funds transfers in these bodies of law.

The Importance Of Corporate Models, Benedict C. Sheehy

ExpressO

This article argues that the debate concerning the nature of the corporation is not finished and nor a mere intellectual exercise for interested legal academics. The current model of the corporation as an economic entity—the firm—has a number of imbedded value assumptions. Given the common territory between corporate law and economics, some scholars have come to identify the two as equal partners striving for the same ends. This is a serious error which has had and continues to have significant negative consequences for both the economic situation of the majority and justice in society. These value assumptions are being seriously …

The Continuing Showdown Over Who Should Regulate Amusement Attraction Safety: A Critical Analysis Of Why Fixed-Site Amusement Attraction Safety Should Remain State-Governed. , Chad Emerson

ExpressO

No abstract provided.

Partnerships With Monarchs: Univeiling And Re-Examining The Pattern Of "Third World" Economic Development In The Petroleum And Energy Sector, Diane M. Bales

ExpressO

No abstract provided.

Involuntary Particularism: What The Noahide Laws Tell Us About Citizenship And Alienage, Gidon G. Rothstein

ExpressO

This article argues that the Jewish picture of the Noahide laws, laws thought to apply to all non-Jews but particularly to those who would reside in a Jewish commonwealth, can shed light on how to balance a strong sense of citizenship with reasonable policies towards Lawful Permanent Residents. The article enunciates models for how to adapt the provisions of one legal system to another, shows that the Noahide system demanded that non-Jews accept fundamental aspects of a Jewish worldview in order to live among them, and then applies those lessons to argue for a reinvigorated view of American citizenship and …

Beyond Rights: Legal Process And Ethnic Conflicts, Elena A. Baylis

ExpressO

Unresolved ethnic conflicts threaten the stability and the very existence of multi-ethnic states. The realities of ethnic conflict are daunting: ethnic disputes tend to be both persistent and complex, and efforts to use democracy or ethnic-blind policies to deal with those conflicts tend to fail. While multi-ethnic states have struggled to devise political solutions for ethnic conflict, they have largely ignored the role that legal processes might play in resolving ethnic discord. But at certain crucial moments in the development of ethnic conflicts, legal processes such as mediation, adjudication, and constitutional interpretation might effectively address these disputes.

This article explores …

The Dividend Divide In Anglo-American Corporate Taxation, Steven Bank

ExpressO

Why did the U.S. and U.K. -- two countries with similarly developed economies and corporate cultures -- originally diverge in their approaches to corporate income taxation and why have they continued to vacillate on this issue over time? This Article concludes that it is a result of a divergence in firm dividend policies in the two countries. While firms in both countries maintained liberal dividend policies during the nineteenth century, U.S. firms began to retain more earnings after the turn-of-the-century and this necessitated a change in the method of taxing corporate income. In subsequent years, both countries have undergone major …

Invasion Of The Clones: Animal Cloning And The Potential Implications On The Future Of Human Cloning And Cloning Legislation In The United States, The United Kingdom, And Internationally, Adrienne N. Calhoun

ExpressO

Cloning is an area of science that changes daily; with advances being made constantly. This technology has caused great controversy in the United States and across the world. The issue has raised religious, ethical, technical and legal concerns. This paper is broken into four parts in order to best address the complex area of cloning technology. Part one will be a review of the history of the science of cloning and the history of animal cloning. Part two will be a discussion of the risks and benefits of cloning. Part three will address ethical and religious concerns surrounding human cloning. …

Leaving Money On The Table: Contract Practice In A Low-Trust Environment, Ruben Kraiem

ExpressO

Social capital – the level of trust inherent in a society – will affect the contracting practices that are considered standard, practical or fair. These practices in turn will help determine the parties’ positions as they approach their negotiation, how they will communicate, and what terms they will agree in any particular transaction. This is true not only for the small transaction, but also for large and complex deals. As a result, when operating in a low-trust environment, even sophisticated parties (who can bear the costs of tailoring an agreement to their particular case), will be prone to relinquish or …