Law Commons^™

Beyond Borders: Martin Luther King, Jr., Africa, And Pan Africanism, Jeremy I. Levitt

Journal Publications

This modest essay was a work of love in honor of Henry J. Richardson III, my dear brother, friend, mentor, and father in international law. Hank is universally recognized as the Dean of Black international law scholars and lawyers in the United States (U.S.), Africa, and beyond. He has single-handedly mentored three generations of international lawyers, influenced three generations of international legal scholarship, and established the Black International Tradition (BIT), which "stretches back to the very origins of our nation, preceding even the Constitution." His works on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s (King) leadership, authority, and ministry as a global …

After 40 Years Of Regional And Coordinated Ship Safety Inspections: Destination Reached Or New Point Of Departure?, Armando Graziano, Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs, Aykut I. Olçer

Journal Publications

Port State Control (PSC) is the major global strategy for fighting substandard shipping since the signature of The Hague Memorandum in 1978. In the last years, the increased volume of trade, the enlarged number of main international conventions and the highlighted differences among the various Regimes have posed new challenges to the modern system of PSC, which may need to find its new course.

This paper examines the point of view of key maritime stakeholders with regard to the EU PSC regime. Elite interviews (n = 14) were conducted with subject matter experts ranging from policy makers, to industry and …

Unintended Lawlessness Of Stand Your Ground: Justitia Fiat Coelum Ruat, Ann Marie Cavazos

Journal Publications

This paper will examine Florida's Stand Your Ground law by analyzing the origins and purpose of the law, vis-a-vis comparative analysis, and by discussing the application of this law. It will compare the stories of victims and further dissect the necessity and benefits of the Stand Your Ground laws, and examine in particular how it has affected the citizens of Florida and the nation. This Article will examine unforeseen outcomes derived from the enactment of a law meant for the common good and will further discuss how the Castle Doctrine evolved into the current Stand Your Ground laws. It will …

African Origins Of International Law: Myth Or Reality?, Jeremy I. Levitt

Journal Publications

This Article reconsiders the prevalent ahistorical assumption that international law began with the Treaty of Westphalia. It gathers together considerable historical evidence to conclude that the ancient world, particularly the New Kingdom period in Egypt or Kemet from 1570-1070 BCE, deployed all three of what today we would call sources of international law. African states predating the modern European nation state by nearly 6000 years engaged in treaty relations (the Treaty of Kadesh), and applied rules of custom (the MA 'AT) and general principles of law (as enumerated in the Egyptian Bill of Rights). While Egyptologists and a few international …

Friends Of Justice: Does Social Media Impact The Public Perception Of The Justice System?, Nicola A. Boothe-Perry

Journal Publications

Lawyers have long been recognized as being necessary in the effective functioning of an ordered society in roles as both officers of the court and, more broadly, as officers of the system of justice. In 2014, the ABA Task Force on the Future of Legal Education report noted that "[s]ociety has a deep interest in the competence of lawyers, in their availability to serve society and clients, in the broad public role they can play, and in their professional values." Values such as those noted in the Model Rules of Professional Conduct (advisor, counselor, and advocate) are instrumental in the …

Libraries Can Help: Institutional Repositories, Yolanda P. Jones

Journal Publications

Law libraries can assist law journals beyond citation help, Westlaw and Lexis training, and gathering resources; law libraries can help with resource discovery and publication-process analysis. Specifically, libraries can guide law journals in implementing, maintaining, and expanding publication technologies through institutional repositories to stay current in this digital age.

The Peace And Security Council Of The African Union: The Known Unknowns, Jeremy I. Levitt

Journal Publications

The protocol establishing the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AUPSC Protocol) will likely come into force in 2004 and will serve as the continent's first continent-wide, regional, collective security system. This article examines how African states chose to evolve the African Union regional collective security system. Particular attention is devoted to the concept of conflict management through military intervention in the AUPSC Protocol and relevant constitutive acts of African regional organizations. The first section analyzes key provisions of the Protocol. The second section contemplates the impact of the Protocol once it enters into force and the main …

Black Internationalism: Embracing An Economic Paradigm, Jeffery M. Brown

Journal Publications

The seemingly inexorable march toward a more unified political and economic world order poses strategic and leadership challenges to States, international organizations, and local activists unimaginable a generation ago. Supporters of this process argue that easing international economic regulatory restrictions, creating a more predictable legal order, and liberalizing investment standards will benefit the global economy by rendering financial transactions more efficient, thereby increasing trade and investment opportunities. Globalization poses important conceptual challenges to international law and international trade scholars committed to defending local interests and historically marginalized people against the perceived adverse effects of accelerated global economic expansion. Critics argue …

The Spratly Islands Dispute: China Defines The New Millennium, Omar Saleem

Journal Publications

China is a growing and prosperous nation that many predict will become the second most powerful military and economic nation in the world, behind the United States, within the early part of the new millennium. China's developmental goals include a claim of right to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The China/Taiwan claim to the Spratly Islands is antagonistic towards the claims asserted by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam who each claim the Spratly Islands in whole or in part. This Article focuses on China's perception of the Spratly Islands dispute and China's potential courses of conduct …

The Top Fives: An Internet Pathfinder For Law Librarians, Yolanda Patrice Jones

Journal Publications

Many law librarians are currently beginning to explore the Internet as a source of legal information. One of the most frequently asked questions after one gets an Interet connection is "Where do I go from here?" The following pathfinder is a list of what I consider to be the most important resources which will lead the legal researcher to the widest possible amount of legal information on the Internet. This list is purely subjective, and certainly not complete. I tried to stick to the 'top five' format as much as possible, but every so often I couldn't help myself from …