Law Commons^™

The Strategy Of Boilerplate, Robert B. Ahdieh

Robert B. Ahdieh

Boilerplate can be exciting. It is this, perhaps hard-to-swallow, proposition that the present analysis attempts to convey. Particularly in invoking the work of Thomas Schelling on the role of focal points in coordination games, it offers what can be characterized as a "strategic" theory of boilerplate, in which boilerplate plays an active, even aggressive, role.

Contrary to the relatively inert quality of boilerplate implied by conventional treatments in the legal literature, boilerplate may serve essential signaling and coordination functions in contract bargaining. In appropriate circumstances, its proposed usage may be a valuable weapon in the arsenal of a bargaining party, …

Law's Signal: A Cueing Theory Of Law In Market Transition, Robert B. Ahdieh

Robert B. Ahdieh

Securities markets are commonly assumed to spring forth at the intersection of an adequate supply of, and a healthy demand for, investment capital. In recent years, however, seemingly failed market transitions - the failure of new markets to emerge and of existing markets to evolve - have called this assumption into question. From the developed economies of Germany and Japan to the developing countries of central and eastern Europe, securities markets have exhibited some inability to take root. The failure of U.S. securities markets, and particularly the New York Stock Exchange, to make greater use of computerized trading, communications, and …

“Ya Me Canse”: How The Iguala Mass Kidnapping Demonstrates Mexico’S Continued Failure To Adhere To Its International Human Rights Obligations, Justin A. Behravesh

Justin A. Behravesh

This article addresses the recent kidnapping and disappearance of forty-three college students from Iguala, Mexico (the “Iguala Mass Kidnapping”), under the lens of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (the “Convention”). While Mexico’s reporting documents on its compliance with the Convention paint a positive picture of how that country is adhering to Convention, any notion that the country was in compliance with the Convention was completely shattered through the Iguala Mass Kidnapping. The article concludes that the actions of state officials during the Iguala Mass Kidnapping violated articles one, six, and twenty-three of the …

Small Island States And The Los Convention 30 Years On: Have The Benefits Been Realised?, Ruth Davis, Quentin Hanich

Quentin Hanich

Although the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) is of great importance to a majority of countries, coastal states, naval powers and distant water fishing nations alike, there is a group of countries for whom the sea is such an integral part of their existence that the LOSC, as the “Constitution for the Oceans,” must be regarded as being of fundamental significance. The populations of these countries, comprised of one or more relatively small islands, find their way of life, indeed their very existence, dominated by the sea. The UN Secretary-General noted in 2011 that …

Fisheries Jurisdiction Under The Law Of The Sea Convention: Rights And Obligations In Maritime Zones Under The Sovereignty Of Coastal States, Martin Tsamenyi, Quentin Hanich

Quentin Hanich

International fisheries governance contains no specific provisions detailing States' rights and obligations in respect of fisheries in maritime zones classified as falling under the sovereignty of coastal States, namely: internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial seas. Using a case-study of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, this article demonstrates that there is still a gap in international fisheries governance relating to fisheries in 'waters under sovereignty' which requires remedying, and concludes by providing some possible management options to fill the gap.

Thinking Outside The Box: The South China Sea Issue And The United Nations Convention On The Law Of The Sea (Options, Limitations And Prospects), Lowell Bautista

Lowell Bautista

The South China Sea issue is a geopolitical tinder box waiting to explode.2 It is clear that the primary reason for the claims is based on its strategic location and its hydrocarbon potential,3 However, this is more than a simple conflict over resources.4 The issue goes beyond the question of territorial sovereignty and natural resource jurisdiction.s This 1S more than a legalquestion of ownership.

The Conservation Of Sea Turtles Under The Law Of The Sea Convention, The Un Fish Stocks Agreement And The Wcpf Convention, Ben Tsamenyi, Joytishna Jit

Professor Ben M Tsamenyi

No abstract provided.

Papua New Guinea's Accession To The 1951 Convention And The 1967 Protocol Relating To The Status Of Refugees, Ben Tsamenyi

Professor Ben M Tsamenyi

Papua New Guinea (PNG) acceded to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol in 1986, after having initially declined to accept those instruments, which had been extended by the administering power, Australia. This article analyses the background to PNG's accession, and the reasons for its reservations to various provisions. PNG has, for some years, received refugees from West Irian, where the authority of the Indonesian Government continues to be challenged by the OPM (the Free Papua Movement). Before 1984, refugee arrivals were sporadic and involved relatively small groups of people; between February and June 1984, however, over ten thousand West …

Role Of Regional Organisations In Meeting Los Convention Challenges: The Western And Central Pacific Experience, Ben Tsamenyi, Lara Manarangi-Trott

Professor Ben M Tsamenyi

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Dispute Settlement Under The Law Of The Sea Convention: Current Practice In The Western And Central Pacific Region, Martin Tsamenyi, Ben Milligan, Kwame Mfodwo

Professor Ben M Tsamenyi

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Jurisdiction Under The Law Of The Sea Convention: Rights And Obligations In Maritime Zones Under The Sovereignty Of Coastal States, Martin Tsamenyi, Quentin Hanich

Professor Ben M Tsamenyi

International fisheries governance contains no specific provisions detailing States' rights and obligations in respect of fisheries in maritime zones classified as falling under the sovereignty of coastal States, namely: internal waters, archipelagic waters and territorial seas. Using a case-study of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, this article demonstrates that there is still a gap in international fisheries governance relating to fisheries in 'waters under sovereignty' which requires remedying, and concludes by providing some possible management options to fill the gap.

Australia And The Convention For The Regulation Of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities (Cramra), Sam Blay, Ben M. Tsamenyi

Professor Ben M Tsamenyi

Australia, a leading Antarctic state that played a key role in negotiating the Convention for the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities, in May 1989 announced its opposition to the Convention and adoption instead of a World Park or Wilderness Reserve concept for Antarctica. This article examines possible environmental and economic reasons for Australia's attitude, which is likely to have significant implications for the future of the Convention and for the Antarctic Treaty System as a whole. -Authors

Illinois, Cook County, Nu Torture, Enslave, Chemical Weapons, Response To State Police Concerns That Concern With Torture,Enslavement, Chemical Weapons Use Is Harassment, James T. Struck

James T Struck

Illinois, Northwestern, Cook County, IIT Torture, Enslave, Genocide, Use chemical weapons against people who are different or have disability- Response to Illinois State Police that concerns with NU, Illinois, Cook County torture is harassment, Asylum Sought to Avoid Illinois Torture. Illinois steals disabled resources to fund Boeing involved in weapons sales, Relevant Law Repealed. All communication would end with enforcement of harassing communications acts as someone may not want communication. CRIMINAL OFFENSES(720 ILCS 135/) Harassing and Obscene Communications Act. (Repealed by P.A. 97-1108)Some of the firsts I have achieved Some libraries have a book called Famous First Facts edited by …

Founding-Era Conventions And The Meaning Of The Constitution’S “Convention For Proposing Amendments”, Robert G. Natelson

Robert G. Natelson

Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, two thirds of state legislatures may require Congress to call a “Convention for proposing Amendments.” Because this procedure has never been used, commentators frequently debate the composition of the convention and the rules governing the application and convention process. However, the debate has proceeded almost entirely without knowledge of the many multi-colony and multi-state conventions held during the eighteenth century, of which the Constitutional Convention was only one. These conventions were governed by universally-accepted convention practices and protocols. This Article surveys those conventions and shows how their practices and protocols shaped the meaning …

Founding Era Conventions And The Constitution's "Convention For Proposing Amendments", Robert G. Natelson

Robert G. Natelson

Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, two thirds of state legislatures may require Congress to call a “Convention for proposing Amendments.” Because this procedure has never been used, commentators frequently debate the composition of the convention and the rules governing the application and convention process. However, the debate has proceeded almost entirely without knowledge of the many multi-colony and multi-state conventions held during the eighteenth century, of which the Constitutional Convention was only one. These conventions were governed by universally-accepted convention practices and protocols. This Article surveys those conventions and shows how their practices and protocols shaped the meaning …

Overcoming The Unfortunate Legacy Of Haditha, The Stryker Brigade “Kill Team”, And Pantano: Establishing More Effective War Crimes Accountability By The United States, Alan F. Williams

Alan F. Williams

In the years since September 11, 2001 U.S. personnel have been implicated in many incidents involving possible war crimes as defined by the Geneva Conventions. The author critically examines the current U.S approach to handling war crimes and concludes that the process is fundamentally flawed and has repeatedly produced unjust outcomes, particularly in a series of high profile cases that have greatly damaged the position of the U.S. in the international community. The author concludes that not only has the U.S. lost the respect of the international community, but has also simultaneously increased the likelihood that U.S. personnel who serve …

Developments In Australian Fisheries Law: Setting The Law Of The Sea Convention Adrift?, Warwick Gullett

Warwick Gullett

Significant developments have recently occurred in the ongoing campaign by the Australian Government to combat illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters, particularly against Patagonian toothfish poaching. On 22 March 2004 significant amendments to Australia’s fisheries laws were passed by the Commonwealth Parliament to improve regulatory efficiency and combat illegal foreign fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ). In addition, on 12 March 2004 the Federal Court of Australia delivered a landmark decision in Olbers v Commonwealth of Australia (No 4) [2004] FCA 229 concerning the automatic forfeiture of foreign vessels to the Commonwealth of Australia at the time when a …

A Protocol Against Trafficking In Persons: Is It Enough?, Michelle K. Forrest

Michelle K Forrest

Human Trafficking is a flourishing, criminal business that brings in more than thirty-two billion dollars yearly. This paper will discuss how the trafficking enterprise is difficult to eliminate because of its growing sophistication; unique flexibility and mobility; infiltration of lawful business; lucrative profit; and transnational operation. Potential infringement upon fundamental ideals of American society, such as privacy and liberty, weakens the fight against trafficking. As a result, trafficking has become a grave threat to human rights, the rule of law, and world peace.

This paper examines the current operation of trafficking in Cambodia, a country that supplies individuals for trafficking; …

Ecological Considerations Relating To The Destruction Of Chemical Weapons, Aldo Zammit Borda

Aldo Zammit Borda

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) not only establishes a global ban on the development of chemical weapons (CW), it also establishes an international obligation on possessor States to destroy their CW and production facilities. This is a central and mandatory obligation of the CWC, which aims at securing a world free of CW. In view of the risks posed by CW to human health and the environment, the obligation to destroy CW may be seen as directly connected to the right to a healthy environment. While the CWC seeks to set high standards for ensuring the safety of people and …

Table 2. International Standards Of Child Labor In Agriculture, Irina Feofanova

Irina Feofanova

APPENDICES for COMBATING OF CHILD LABOR IN AGRICULTURE: CRITICISM OF EXISTING STANDARDS AND ROLE OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

Bringing Locus Into Focus: A Choice-Of-Law Methodology For Cisg-Based Concurrent Contract And Product Liability Claims, Antonin I. Pribetic

Antonin I. Pribetic

The article discusses choice-of-law theories for both contractual and tort/product liability claims governed by the CISG. The underlying theme is that concurrent claims are not necessarily equivalent claims. While concurrent liability in contract and tort (namely, product liability) may be applicable or alternative remedies available, the focus of the CISG is the harmonization of rules governing international sale contracts. The article argues that factors such as the place of injury or where the damages are sustained are less relevant than the situs of the contract, based upon the view that, without privity of contract, the concurrent tort would not arise. …

Strangers In A Strange Land - Transnational Litigation, Foreign Judgment Recognition, And Enforcement In Ontario, Antonin I. Pribetic

Antonin I. Pribetic

Well into the new millennium, the landscape of international business commerce continues to change dramatically. As many companies expand into global markets, the extant business reality of prosecuting or defending lawsuits arises from companies relying upon standard or boiler plate contracts or invoices when selling goods and services to customers or buying products from suppliers or third parties. This article discusses transnational contractual and litigation issues in Canada, with specific application to the province of Ontario. This article first addresses, from an Ontario company perspective, the importance of incorporating choice of forum, choice of law, and time of the essence …

James Madison And The Constitution's “Convention For Proposing Amendments", Robert G. Natelson

Robert G. Natelson

This article traces the progress of James Madison's thought on the Constitution's "convention for proposing amendments as a way for states to assert themselves against the federal government. Madison saw the convention as an important part of the Constitution, and a constitutional alternative to nullification.

Thomas Hobbes's "A Discourse Of Laws", Noel B. Reynolds

Noel B Reynolds

The recent discovery that an anonymously published 1620 essay was an early writing of Thomas Hobbes invites investigation of his early thinking. Hobbes relied on mostly classical sources to advance a basically conventionalist theory of law and to anticipate twentieth century analyses of the principles of rule of law such as those made famous by F. A. Hayek and Michael Oakeshott.

The Separation Of Law And Morals, Noel Reynolds

Noel B Reynolds

The classic opposition of legal positivism and natural law theory resurfaces continually and reminds us that we have yet to resolve this key conflict in our ways of understanding the moral authority of law. The strengths and weaknesses of the two theories are reviewed—both have fatal flaws. Conventionalism is proposed as a means of finding internal standards in a man-made system of law. The naturally emerging standards for a conventionalist system of law turn out to be the already familiar principles of the rule of law.

Hume And His Critics--Reid And Kames, Noel B. Reynolds

Noel B Reynolds

This presentation was in response to Kenneth MacKinnon’s defense of Thomas Reid’s preference for natural virtue against David Hume’s conventionalism in his theory of law. It is argued that because Hume’s legal theory follows easily from his theory of human nature, Reid and Kames—and MacKinnon—need to refute Hume at that level to be successful in their rejection of his conventionalism.