Comparative and Foreign Law Commons^™

The Eu Regulation On Insolvency Proceedings: The Need For A Modified Universal Approach, Jully Pae

UC Law SF International Law Review

The growth of cross-border insolvencies has increased with the growth of international business activity. As courts of multiple jurisdictions are implicated, conflict-of-law problems surface. This note examines different theories which purport to overcome these conflict-of-law problems. This note also proposes that a modified universalism theory, as opposed to the dominant universalism theory, is the best solution to the problems which arise from the cross-border insolvencies.

The Problem Of Enforcing Environmental Norms In The Wto And What To Do About It, Sanford E. Gaines

UC Law SF International Law Review

National and international focus and efforts on trade has led to the comparative disadvantage of international environmental policy relative to trade policy in what is known as the trade-environment problematique. The tension between trade and the environment does not exist because trade norms trump environmental norms, but because of the tension between environmental protection and the intensification of economic activity to provide for the world's growing population. This article argues that rather than creating a new international institution to address the trade-environment problematique, international environmental policy should instead be more fully and deeply integrated into economic policy, which can only …

Enforcing Environmental Norms: Diplomatic And Judicial Approaches, Nicholas A. Robinson

UC Law SF International Law Review

In the space of one generation, through both national and international agreements, nations have established norms and a framework for environmental stewardship of the Earth. One sign of the acceptance and maturation of environmental norms is that nations now worry about how to enforce environmental law and how to achieve compliance. Enforcement of environmental laws is essential to attaining the international objective of sustainable development. To be effective, this enforcement must be routine, reasonably resourced and predictable-an arduous challenge. In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to the United Nations, …

A Comparative Look At Anti-Stalking Legislation In The United States And Japan, Nga B. Tran

UC Law SF International Law Review

Even with anti-stalking laws in place in the United States, the persistence of stalking crimes is alarming. Providing victims with maximum protection under a legal system requires drafting constitutionally valid statutes, mandatory police education and training on the subject and prevention and early intervention. In addition, comparing the anti-stalking laws in the United States with the newly implemented anti-stalking laws in Japan, which have been very effective in curbing the activities of stalkers, leads to the conclusion that anti-stalking laws in the U.S. should incorporate many of Japan's victim-oriented measures.

The Origin And Emergence Of International Environmental Norms, Armin Rosencranz

UC Law SF International Law Review

In this symposium essay, I intend to explore the origins and influence of international environmental norms. I believe I can identify twenty norms as either prevailing or rising norms of global environmental law: sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas (use your property so that the property of others is not damaged); subsidiarity; cultural diversity; the environment is a human right; the common heritage of humankind; environmental impact assessment; intergenerational equity; state sovereignty; the polluter pays principle; active role of civil society and NGOs; notification and consultation; equal access to justice; monitoring, reporting and disclosure; sustainable development; the precautionary principle; …

International Environmental Justice: Rights And Remedies, Kenneth F. Mccallion

UC Law SF International Law Review

Although environmental rights are not explicitly enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it has become generally recognized that environmental rights are closely linked with the right to life, which is the most fundamental jus cogens norm, without which no other rights can be exercised. As the environmental crisis has accelerated in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, constitutional drafters around the globe have explicitly enshrined in their constitutions some form of obligation to protect the environment or other environmental rights. Consequently, states have come to realize the existence of a duty to prevent grave environmental destruction, particularly in the …

Remedying Past Abuses Of Governmental Power - Legal Accountability For The 1968 Events In Poland, Susanne Starecki

UC Law SF International Law Review

Since the 1968 events in Poland, the Polish government has systematically subjected Polish Jews to degrading treatment, denied them their rights to freedom of religion, denied them their right to the enjoyment of property and engaged in numerous acts of discrimination. The issue of justice and reparations for these Polish Jews must be addressed. This note examines the means Polish Jews may explore to remedy Polish governmental abuses. Due to the absence of applicable domestic laws and reparations by Poland, Polish Jews need to utilize international tribunals, particularly the European Court of Human Rights.

Out Of The Crooked Timber Of Humanity: The Conflict Between South Africa's Truth And Reconciliation Commission And International Human Rights Norms Regarding Effective Remedies, Sherrie L. Russell-Brown

UC Law SF International Law Review

Judicial review in the United States is a strong and effective remedy. However, it is a limited remedy because the courts act only when asked and because courts have developed an entire jurisprudence of reasons why they cannot hear cases. For past violations there is no constitutional remedy; and there is no constitutional obligation upon Congress, or upon the States, to provide remedies, or to compensate victims for violations of their rights.

In contrast to the U.S. Constitution, various comprehensive human rights and regional human rights treaties explicitly include, in some form, the right to a remedy for violations of …

Declaring War On The Japanese Constitution: Japan's Right To Military Sovereignty And The United States' Right To Military Presence In Japan, Derek Van Hoften

UC Law SF International Law Review

An analysis of the Japanese military and its relationship with the United States military necessarily involves an analysis of historical events, legal issues and international law. Specifically, it involves a detailed examination of the United States' post-war occupation of Japan and the new U.S.-drafted Japanese constitution that followed; of the intricacies of that constitution, including its renunciation of the right to belligerency or to maintenance of armed forces; of internal and external pressures to amend or reinterpret that constitution; of practical realities such as diplomacy, self defense and economic growth; of the legitimacy of a document called a constitution, for …

The European Union V. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Estonia's Conflicting Interests As A Party To The International Criminal Court, Barbi Appelquist

UC Law SF International Law Review

The United States has requested that states party to the ICC sign agreements-referred to as Article 98 treatiesexempting U.S. citizens from ICC jurisdiction. The EU has opposed Article 98 treaties on the grounds that they threaten the legitimacy of the ICC. This note evaluates the conflicting political pressure exerted on Estonia to either sign or refrain from signing an Article 98 treaty. Part One summarizes the theory of transplantation and how Estonia's relationships with the EU, NATO and the ICC have affected Estonia's international legal obligations and diplomatic options. Part Two analyzes Estonia's relations with the United States, NATO and …

Enforcing Arms Control Agreements By Military Force: Iraq And The 800-Pound Gorilla, Davis Brown

UC Law SF International Law Review

Despite Iraq's complete disdain for international law, the community of States, acting in accordance with international law, had allowed the Ba'ath regime to remain in power. Iraq therefore enjoyed the benefits of the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference with internal affairs, and, for the most part, non-use of force, without shouldering any of the responsibilities that come with the privilege of recognition as a State. This article begins with a presentation of a new approach to jus ad bellum which takes just war theory to the next level, where force is used as a remedy to a grave injury caused …

Reining In The American Litigator: The New Role Of American Judges, Richard L. Marcus

UC Law SF International Law Review

The American lawyer has long seemed unique in the world-almost a cowboy figure doing justice against the odds. The American judge, on the other hand, has remained a background figure, rarely taking the initiative and serving instead as a passive, impartial umpire in the contest of the lawyers. During the last half-century, however, the latitude accorded the American lawyer has increasingly been reined in by American judges. Although there has been resistance to this trend, it shows no signs of abating. This paper begins with a very general sketch of the role of attorneys in U.S. society and government, and …

Roles Of Judges And Attorneys Under The Non-Sanction Scheme In Japanese Civil Procedure, Koichi Miki

UC Law SF International Law Review

In many jurisdictions, the roles of judges and attorneys in modern civil procedure are becoming multi-faceted and, accordingly, more and more complex. This paper outlines the Japanese situation, focusing on the most recent reform of the Japanese Code of Civil Procedure (the New Code), which occurred in 1996. The reform introduced several innovative devices, none of which contained sanction provisions for implementation or enforcement of their legal effect. The inclination towards non-sanction schemes of this kind reflects the recent trend in reforms. The non-sanction scheme inevitably has an influence on the roles of judges and attorneys. Therefore, it is necessary …

The Multiple Roles Of Judges And Attorneys In Modern Civil Litigation, Astrid Stadler

UC Law SF International Law Review

In contrast to the U.S. adversary system, the great influence of the judge on the conduct of litigation in continental Europe, especially in Germany, is based upon a different understanding of the relationship between the state and its citizens. Based upon historical experience, especially under German law, judges have great constitutionally-based independence. The German Civil Procedure Rules Act had as its goals the reform of the German civil procedure remedy system, the development of a more consumer-friendly, efficient and transparent civil procedure, the encouragement of faster trials and the increase of court-directed settlements. It is still too early for a …

Justice For Some - U.S. Efforts Under Article 98 To Escape The Jurisdiction Of The International Criminal Court, Cosmos Eubany

UC Law SF International Law Review

In April 2002, ten countries ratified the Rome Statute and deposited their instruments with the United Nations. These actions brought the International Criminal Court into force with over sixty ratifications. A month later, the United States declared that it no longer intended to pursue ratification of the treaty and asked to remove its signature from the statute. The United States then launched a campaign to ensure that its nationals would not fall within the jurisdiction of the Court. To ensure that the ICC does not gain jurisdiction over its nationals under any circumstance, the United States is currently seeking "non-surrender" …

The Right Of Abode Cases: Hong Kong's Constitutional Crisis, Anne R. Fokstuen

UC Law SF International Law Review

This note examines the relationship between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR") and the People's Republic of China ("PRC") after the handover, and focuses on recent Court of Final Appeals ("CFA") decisions involving the interpretation of Hong Kong's Constitution, the Basic Law, in the "right of abode" context. The author analyzes the most recent decisions in the context of the unacknowledged political balancing act required by the judiciary in post handover Hong Kong and explores the outlook for the "one country, two systems" framework set up at the time of the handover.

Introduction Symposium Of The Japan Association Of The Law Of Civil Procedure: The Role Of The Judge In The Development Of Civil Litigation, Makoto Ito

UC Law SF International Law Review

This year's symposium focused on the role of the judge in development of civil litigation. The role of the judge is surely central to many aspects of civil procedure; as the authority and latitude of the judge expand, the authority and latitude of the lawyers may diminish. There is significant evolution of the role of the judge in Japan, Germany and the United States, but whether this evolution is proceeding at the same speed, or in the same direction, is a matter for discussion and further study.

The Byrd Amendment Battle: American Trade Politics At The Wto, Claire Hervey

UC Law SF International Law Review

The Byrd Amendment has been controversial in both domestic U.S. politics and in international trade law since its enactment. In the international sphere, the controversy surrounds its validity under the WTO, the world's strongest supranational legal regime. In the largest joint dispute resolution action in the history of the WTO, thirty countries challenged the Byrd Amendment as a violation of the ban on governmental subsidies, and won. The U.S. Congress failed to comply with this ruling by its implementation deadline (December 27, 2003) as well as with several other decisions of the WTO, deepening the rift between America and its …

Commanding International Judicial Respect: Reciprocity And The Recognition And Enforcement Of Foreign Judgments, Susan L. Stevens

UC Law SF International Law Review

The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments have become one of the most prominent areas of interest for many countries in this day of heightened globalization. While the United States has been generous in its recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, many foreign countries have been unwilling to honor U.S. judgments. U.S. recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments is currently handled on a state-by-state basis, governed by state statute or common law. From a foreign country perspective, this "system" provides no unified procedure indicating under what conditions foreign judgments will be recognized and enforced. The Council of the American Law …

Sovereignty: The State, The Individual, And The International Legal System In The Twenty First Century, Ronald A. Brand

UC Law SF International Law Review

In its origins, the concept of sovereignty dealt with the relationship between the individual and the "sovereign." Its application to the role of the state in international law developed as a secondary matter, bringing with it discussions of relationships between "sovereign" states. However, international law has moved beyond contemporary notions of sovereignty. Concerns about "giving up sovereignty" through participation in multilateral organizations are often misplaced. In this century the most important developments in international law will not be in state-state relationships but rather in the status and rights of the person in international law. The ultimate propriety of new international …

The Brazilian Legal Tradition And Environmental Protection: Friend Or Foe, Janelle E. Kellman

UC Law SF International Law Review

Brazil is home to almost forty-two percent of the area known worldwide as the Amazon basin. Despite its tremendous beauty and ecological richness, the Amazon forest is being destroyed at an unprecedented rate. Legal historians and international scholars have argued that the controversy surrounding the Amazon has stemmed from conflicting economic uses of the forest. Economics, however, is only one piece of the puzzle that accounts for the massive destruction of the rainforest and its surrounding ecosystem. Brazil has a complex set of environmental regulations and statutes. This Article examines how Brazilian legal culture and society have made it virtually …

Governance Of Internet Domain Names Against Cybersquatters In China: A Framework And Legal Perspective, Mo Zhang

UC Law SF International Law Review

Registration of domain names in China has been burgeoning at an accelerated pace in recent years. Due to the lack of an effective link between domain name registration and protection of trademarks, speculators, driven by the potential profit derived from registering famous marks and service marks of others, often abuse the registration and use of domain names. Consequently, trademark infringement stemming from illegal registration and use of domain names has emerged as a serious legal issue. Despite China's efforts to manage and control the registration of domain names through administrative schemes, such remedial measures seem inadequate to solve the thorny …

State Sponsorship And Support Of International Terrorism: Customary Norms Of State Responsibility, Scott M. Malzahn

UC Law SF International Law Review

International terrorists survive and flourish while working underground and out of sight. However, for all its secrecy, terrorism develops within national borders, often in cooperation with public officials or at the acquiescence of political leaders. This note explores the symbiotic relationship between states and private persons who commit crimes of international terrorism, and analyzes the relevant customary norms of international law that may serve as a legal device to hold states accountable in damages for state sponsorship and support of international terrorism. Although legal remedies to acts of terrorism are not always satisfactory, the potential value and positive externalities of …

Extradition And The Conflict In Northern Ireland: The Past, Present And Future Of An Intractable Problem, Margaret I. Branick

UC Law SF International Law Review

British government efforts to extradite members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) from the United States have posed challenges to U.S. extradition policy since the 1970s. Under extradition law, "political offenses" traditionally are treated as non-extraditable offenses. Use of the political offense exception to deny extradition of IRA fugitives from the United States prompted the United Kingdom and the United States to sign a Supplementary Treaty in 1985, which eliminated the political offense exception for broad categories of violent acts.

This Note briefly reviews the background of the conflict in Northern Ireland, and discusses extradition law and the political …

Electronic Signatures: A Comparison Of American And European Legislation, Lance C. Ching

UC Law SF International Law Review

The federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, effective on October 1, 2000, established that a signature, contract, or record related to an interstate or foreign transaction cannot be denied legal effect simply because it is in electronic form, subject to certain exceptions. For much the same purpose, the European Parliament and Council adopted the Directive on a Community Framework for Electronic Signatures in December 1999.

This Note discusses the approaches taken by the United States and the European Union toward establishing the validity of electronic signatures. It provides a brief overview of the history of electronic commerce …

Identifying Terrorists: Privacy Rights In The United States And The United Kingdom, Joyce W. Luk

UC Law SF International Law Review

While the privacy concerns raised by technological advances are widely recognized, recent terrorist attacks and developments in surveillance and information technologies have led to a convergence of technologies that present new challenges to the right to privacy.

This Note gives a general background on video surveillance and facial recognition software and discusses the technology behind, and uses of, closed circuit television in the United States and elsewhere. The Note also explores the meaning of privacy, privacy rights, and their applicability to facial recognition technology, video surveillance, and other emerging surveillance technologies in the United States. It discusses privacy rights and …

Sovereignty, Influence, Realpolitik And The World Trade Organization, Matthew Schaefer

UC Law SF International Law Review

During the U.S. governmental consideration of the Uruguay Round agreements creating the World Trade Organization ("WTO"), claims of "lost sovereignty" were used as a rhetorical device by numerous groups opposed to the WTO. The primary users of the rhetoric were supporters of a more protectionist trade policy, most prominently Pat Buchanan and environmental activists associated with Lori Wallach. However, the ease with which the legalistic response debunked the claim of lost sovereignty and the selective application of sovereignty rhetoric by these groups suggested that their actual concerns did not match the rhetoric. Instead, the underlying concern appears to be over …

Relative Sovereignty Of The Twenty First Century, Ivan Simonovic

UC Law SF International Law Review

The quality of state sovereignty in the contemporary world, both in internal and external relations, has fundamentally changed. Sovereignty of the state in international relations is changing from a system of international relations based on concentration of power in states alone into a system of power-sharing and balance between state and non-state actors. The principle of noninterference in the "internal affairs of a state" is being challenged by the international community's belief in its "responsibility to protect" the world's citizens from persecution, large-scale human rights abuses, and other sufferings. However rational, the process of increasing power-sharing between states, international organizations, …

International Law And The Internet: An Ill-Suited Match - Case Note On Uejf & Licra V. Yahoo! Inc., Caitlin T. Murphy

UC Law SF International Law Review

Internet users, legal scholars, and international observers have been predicting a clash over ideas on the Internet for quite some time. The truly global nature of the medium, the uncertain status of Internet jurisdiction, and the fact that international laws about speech are divergent have created a sense that a collision of ideology and practical legal concerns was imminent. These predictions were realized in May, 2000 when various human rights groups in France filed suit against the American internet giant Yahoo! Inc. over the posting and selling of Nazi paraphernalia on American Web sites that French users can access. This …

Nobody's Perfect: Proximate Cause In American And Jewish Law, Steven F. Friedell

UC Law SF International Law Review

Although it may seem counterintuitive, wrongdoers are not liable for most of the damage they cause. The law leaves most of the burden of torts on the victims because it would be neither just nor practical to hold culpable defendants liable for all the harm they cause. The difficult task for any legal system is to define the criteria that determine the limits of liability and to prescribe the procedures for applying those criteria.

This Article will explore the problem in both the American and Jewish legal systems and suggest ways in which the American system can be reformed. First, …