Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 19 of 19

Full-Text Articles in Law

Ucmj Article 66(C) And The Case To End The Courts Of Criminal Appeals De Novo Review Of Factual Sufficiency, Matt C. Pinsker Sep 2013

Ucmj Article 66(C) And The Case To End The Courts Of Criminal Appeals De Novo Review Of Factual Sufficiency, Matt C. Pinsker

Matt C Pinsker

Under UCMJ Article 66(c), the military’s courts of criminal appeals have the unusual appellate power of conducting a de novo review of a trial court’s findings of fact. Congress gave the military’s appellate courts their unusual fact-finding powers in 1950 because under the original UCMJ, special and general courts-martials were highly unprofessional proceedings which were susceptible to command influence, creating the risk of unjustly convicting innocent servicemembers. Originally, there were not even judges presiding at summary courts-martials. Instead, a senior line officer untrained in law was designated president of the panel and was responsible for making legal decisions such as …


U.S. Judicial Independence: Victim In The “War On Terror”, Wayne Mccormack Aug 2013

U.S. Judicial Independence: Victim In The “War On Terror”, Wayne Mccormack

Wayne McCormack

One of the principal victims in the U.S. so-called "war on terror" has been the independence of the U.S. Judiciary. Time and again, challenges to assertedly illegal conduct on the part of government officials have been turned aside without addressing the merits, either because of overt deference to the Government or because of special doctrines such as state secrets and standing requirements. This paper catalogs the principal cases first by the nature of the government action challenged and then by the special doctrines invoked. The U.S. judiciary has virtually relinquished its valuable role of judicial review. In the face of …


Law-Of-War Perfidy, Sean Watts Jul 2013

Law-Of-War Perfidy, Sean Watts

Sean Watts

More than a prohibition of underhanded or dishonorable conduct, the prohibition of perfidy is an essential buttress to the law of war as a medium of exchange between combatants – a guarantee of minimum respect and trust between belligerents even in the turmoil of war. Indeed, it may be difficult to conceive of an operative or effective war convention at all without guarantees against and protections from perfidy. Yet most existing conceptions of perfidy, whether drawn from treaty, military legal doctrine, or legal scholarship, merely restate imprecise codifications or offer little more than a vague sensibility. This article offers detailed …


A Regime In Need Of A Balance: The Un Counter-Terrorism Regime Between Security And Human Rights, Isaac Kfir Jul 2013

A Regime In Need Of A Balance: The Un Counter-Terrorism Regime Between Security And Human Rights, Isaac Kfir

Isaac Kfir

Since 9/11, the UN’s counter-terrorism regime has developed two distinct approaches on combating international terrorism. The Security Council follows a traditional security doctrine that focuses on how to best protect states from the threat posed by international terrorists. This is largely due to the centrality of the state in Security Council thinking and attitudes. The General Assembly and the various UN human rights organs, influenced by the human security doctrine, have taken a more holistic, human rights-based approach to the threat of international terrorism. This paper offers a review of how the dichotomy above affects the application of UN policy …


A Maelstrom Of International Law And Intrigue: The Remarkable Voyage Of The S.S. City Of Flint, Andrew J. Norris Jul 2013

A Maelstrom Of International Law And Intrigue: The Remarkable Voyage Of The S.S. City Of Flint, Andrew J. Norris

Andrew Norris

No abstract provided.


U.S. Institutionalized Torture With Impunity: Examining Rape And Sexual Abuse In Custody Through The Icty Jurisprudence, Allison Rogne Jul 2013

U.S. Institutionalized Torture With Impunity: Examining Rape And Sexual Abuse In Custody Through The Icty Jurisprudence, Allison Rogne

Allison Rogne

It is a well-established principle, both domestically and internationally, that rape is torture when suffered as part of confinement. It is also well documented, both domestically and internationally, that rape is rampant in U.S. prisons. And it is well established, both domestically and internationally, that those who torture should not do so with impunity, that that impunity is an affront to civilization and the human rights principles to which we all strive. And yet, in U.S. prisons, shocking numbers of women are systematically raped and sexually abused by those that would rehabilitate them. Female prisoners are victims of vaginal and …


Kiobel, Extraterritoriality, And The "Global War On Terrorism", Craig Martin Jul 2013

Kiobel, Extraterritoriality, And The "Global War On Terrorism", Craig Martin

Craig Martin

For the purpose of exploring the issues of extraterritoriality raised in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., this project sought to examine how the federal courts have considered extraterritoriality in cases arising in the so-called “global war on terror” (GWOT). The inquiry leads to some new and arguably important observations about extraterritoriality in the GWOT policies and related jurisprudence. The plaintiffs in Kiobel claimed, under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), that the defendant corporations were liable for complicity in Nigeria’s conduct of indefinite detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing. The U.S. Supreme Court departed from the issue of corporate liability under …


Lawfulness Of And The Case For Combat Drone Against Terrorism, Heeyong D. Jang Jun 2013

Lawfulness Of And The Case For Combat Drone Against Terrorism, Heeyong D. Jang

Heeyong D Jang

The proliferation and use of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) since the September 11 attack triggered lively academic debates. The discussion thus far, often tainted by illegitimate ad bellum-in bello conflation, falls short of justifying the lawfulness and effectiveness of combat drones. Combat drones can successfully discharge its obligation under the four-pronged jus in bello test – distinction, proportionality, necessity, and humanity. Furthermore, this state-of-the-art technology helps to achieve five important policy objectives of fighting asymmetric warfare, combating insurgents who disregard the existing law, deterring further acts of terrorism, dodging improvised explosive devices, and avoiding more costly military actions.


Legal Issues Associated With Unmanned Maritime Systems, Andrew J. Norris May 2013

Legal Issues Associated With Unmanned Maritime Systems, Andrew J. Norris

andrew j norris

No abstract provided.


Targeting Killings Outside The Traditional Battlefield: The Legality Of Targeted Attacks On Transnational Armed Terrorists., Marti Sleister Feb 2013

Targeting Killings Outside The Traditional Battlefield: The Legality Of Targeted Attacks On Transnational Armed Terrorists., Marti Sleister

Marti Sleister

This paper asks whether traditional laws can evolve to protect citizens in the face of targeted killings on transnational-armed groups. The resolution analyzes how the current war methods fail to fit into the old mold of war; suggests what modifications could be made; and briefly discusses the fate of the laws of war should changes not occur. First, this paper will discuss the legal treaties defining and controlling the current laws of war, specifically, the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. Second, this paper will analyze how International Human Rights Law (IHRL) applies, particularly in light of the limitations of …


Direct Participation In Hostilities From Cyberspace, Collin Allan Feb 2013

Direct Participation In Hostilities From Cyberspace, Collin Allan

Collin Allan

As demonstrated by the cyber attacks against Georgia in 2008 and the cyber attacks against Aramco in 2012, civilians are increasing their participation in armed conflicts through cyber attacks. In 2009, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) published a document on how to determine when a civilian’s participation in armed conflict reaches the necessary level to render him or her targetable by one of the parties to the conflict. The Tallinn Manual was published this year to provide legal guidance in cyber situations. While professionals have written in this area previously, it is the first time that experts …


Cipa V. State Secrets: How A Few Mistakes Confused Two Important National Security Privileges, Elisa Poteat Feb 2013

Cipa V. State Secrets: How A Few Mistakes Confused Two Important National Security Privileges, Elisa Poteat

Elisa Poteat

No abstract provided.


The Structure Of Law-Of-War Perfidy, Sean Watts Feb 2013

The Structure Of Law-Of-War Perfidy, Sean Watts

Sean Watts

The structural role of law-of-war perfidy is widely unappreciated and misunderstood. More than a prohibition of underhanded or dishonorable conduct, the prohibition of perfidy is an essential buttress to the law of war as a medium of exchange between combatants – a guarantee of minimum respect and trust between belligerents even in the turmoil of war. Indeed, it may be difficult to conceive of an operative or effective war convention at all without guarantees against and protections from perfidy. Through the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the prohibition of perfidy matured from a broad, customary notion of chivalry and honorable …


Is U.S. Operational Self-Defense A State Practice Creating New Customary International Law?, Yevgeny S. Vindman Jan 2013

Is U.S. Operational Self-Defense A State Practice Creating New Customary International Law?, Yevgeny S. Vindman

Yevgeny S Vindman

U.S. policy on self-defense is based on recognition that modern conflicts have created new and unconventional threats that had not been anticipated or addressed in the Law of War. Based on U.S. policy and general principles of self-defense, operational self-defense is an evolutionary concept that developed over the course of the recent conflicts to allow senior commanders to leverage the enormous resources available to reduce or eliminate threats that may have previously been imperceptible. Operational self-defense executed in bello, occupies the operational sphere in War, between tactical and strategic. Operational self-defense is not limited by use of force restrictions imposed …


A Legal 'Red Line'? Syria And The Use Of Chemical Weapons In Civil Conflict, Jillian Blake Jan 2013

A Legal 'Red Line'? Syria And The Use Of Chemical Weapons In Civil Conflict, Jillian Blake

Jillian Blake

This Essay analyzes the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons in civil conflicts and applies its findings to the Syrian civil war. We find that international humanitarian law and international criminal law provide a clear ban on the use of chemical weapons in international armed conflict. This prohibition is less clear in noninternational armed conflict, suggesting the need for legal reforms to firmly ban the use of chemical weapons in all armed conflicts. Furthermore, we find the use of chemical weapons in Syria does not, by itself, cross a legal red line justifying military intervention. Instead, the use of …


Analyzing The Legitimacy Of The Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam’S Rebellion Against The Sri Lankan State, Paul R. Rickert Jan 2013

Analyzing The Legitimacy Of The Liberation Tigers Of Tamil Eelam’S Rebellion Against The Sri Lankan State, Paul R. Rickert

Paul R Rickert

No abstract provided.


Is Torture Justified In Terrorism Cases?: Comparing U.S. And European Views, Stephen P. Hoffman Jan 2013

Is Torture Justified In Terrorism Cases?: Comparing U.S. And European Views, Stephen P. Hoffman

Stephen P. Hoffman

This essay discusses issues of torture and some of the philosophical underpinnings. First, I define torture as it is used in international and human rights law. Then, I discuss three primary theories of torture: deontology, consequentialism, and threshold deontology. After setting this groundwork, I introduce particular issues in terrorism cases such as the “ticking bomb” scenario, which is often used to argue that torture may be appropriate and possibly required when done to save many lives. This invariably must include a discussion of the necessity doctrine, the legal doctrine allowing an individual to take extraordinary — even illegal — measures …


Smart Power For Hard Problems: The Role Of Special Operation Forces Strengthening The Rule Of Law And Human Rights In Africa, Kevin H. Govern Jan 2013

Smart Power For Hard Problems: The Role Of Special Operation Forces Strengthening The Rule Of Law And Human Rights In Africa, Kevin H. Govern

Kevin H. Govern

This article will assess the roles and responsibilities of Special Operations Forces (SOF) within the newly created U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) as an active proponent of a so-called “smart power” national security strategy. In particular, it will outline the economic, political, and military challenges faced in Africa; specifically, how and why SOCAFRICA is the U.S. force of choice for promoting human rights and rule of law in Africa. With the goals of the U.S. military in mind, questions will necessarily arise as to “what success looks like” for both the U.S. and African nations, and the roles of each in …


The Resonance Of Christian Political Conceptions Within International Humanitarian Law, David B. Dennison Jan 2013

The Resonance Of Christian Political Conceptions Within International Humanitarian Law, David B. Dennison

David Brian Dennison

This paper presents conceptions from the Christian tradition that have special resonance modern International Humanitarian Law. The object of this paper supplies a lens that enables readers to detect the formative influence of unique Christian concepts. The conceptions from the Christian tradition presented include the Augustinian perspective on mortal and eternal life, the conception of a fallen world contrasted with a utopian vision, love as a motivation for peace, an expansive view of human community, the concept of role appropriate morality and the significance of outward signs and symbolism in the context of armed conflict.