International Law Commons^™

Re-Emphasizing African Bioethics In Light Of Potential Crispr-Based Treatment For Hiv And Sickle Cell Disease, Taylor Daniel

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Recent genetic studies indicate that CRISPR-Cas9, a biological gene-editing mechanism derived from bacteria, may be capable of curing HIV and Sickle Cell Disease. Clinical research for HIV and SCD is prevalent in African nations because of the high incidence of those diseases in all forms. Because past research studies in Africa demonstrate how Western companies can abuse lax ethics regulations in developing African nations, ethics systems must prevent this new, potentially far-reaching CRISPR technology from being prematurely and unethically used on African research participants. In updating current international bioethics frameworks, drafters should pay particular attention to its application in African …

Pornography-Based Sex Trafficking: A Palermo Protocol Fit For The Internet Age, Hope Watson

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The United Nations Palermo Protocol provides an international framework for regulating human trafficking with aims of increasing perpetrator prosecution and victim rehabilitation. Signatory nations implement this resolution through domestic legislation. Discrepancies across these statutes result in dangerous jurisdictional gaps and chaotically varied law enforcement approaches. Though legal scholarship rarely addresses the topic, pornography-based sex trafficking provides a clear example of this trend. The unique digital features of the internet compound these challenges. This Note seeks to close procedural gaps and alleviate policing frustrations through a proprietary examination of the Protocol’s “exploitation” definition and suggests an amendment to the Protocol that …

How To Treat The Wto's Problem With Precedent, Timothy Meyer

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

This Article argues that the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body (AB), or a successor body, must become more transparent in justifying its decision to rely (or not) on prior decisions. The AB’s practice of precedent—which the United States cited as a cause of its decision to paralyze the AB by blocking new appointments-—is similar to how it has approached “likeness” in nondiscrimination cases. It placed a lot of weight on whether two cases (or products) are sufficiently similar to be compared, and it spent relatively less time substantively justifying its treatment of prior cases. Because the WTO does not have …

Preventing Foreign-Judgment Country Hopping With A New Transnational Recognition And Enforcement Standard, Ryan Everette

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Since the 1990s, a group of plaintiffs from Ecuador has been involved in litigation with what is presently the Chevron Corporation. During the lawsuit in Ecuador’s courts, the plaintiffs’ lawyers took part in deceptive activities that led to an unreliable judgment against Chevron and has resulted in civil liability for the lawyers and an inability to enforce the judgment against Chevron in the United States for the plaintiff class. Over the better part of the last decade, the plaintiffs’ lawyers have sought and failed to enforce the judgment in several countries outside of the United States, leading to a prolonging …

A World Of Their Own: Illiberal Religious Communities Struggle To Comply With Covid-19 Public Health Regulations, Shai Stern

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The COVID-19 pandemic did not eliminate existing social tensions; rather, it at times intensified them. Thus, it is unsurprising that. the tension between the liberal state and illiberal religious communities likewise intensified, as those communities were late to comply with COVID-19 public health regulations issued by state authorities. This Article suggests that alongside the behavioral and psychological explanations for individual non-compliance, illiberal religious communities' late response to the COVID-19 threats stems out of these communities' unique characteristics and deeply held norms. It provides five explanations supporting this argument and argues that all result from the interventionist liberal-centric policies embraced by …

Armed Conflicts In Outer Space: Which Law Applies?, Frans G. Von Der Dunk

Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law Program: Faculty Publications

I. Introduction

II. Space Law versus the Law of Armed Conflict ... A. The Essentials of Space Law … B. Space Law and the Threat or Use of Force in Outer Space … C. The Essentials of the Law of Armed Conflict ... D. The Law of Armed Conflict and the Threat or Use of Force in Outer Space

III. Conflicts of Application: A Few Key Examples ... A. Unraveling the Prioritization Issue: The Lex Specialis and Lex Posterior Principles ... B. Unraveling the Prioritization Issue: The U.N. Charter and Treaty Interpretation ... C. Unraveling the Prioritization Issue: Pacta Sunt …

Satellite Communications Law: The Nexus Of Space And Telecom Law, Frans Von Der Dunk

Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law Program: Faculty Publications

Given the complexity of satellite communications as a global business sector involving many private as well as public operators, many national and international regulators and a constantly evolving suite of services offered to an ever-increasing number of users and consumers, it should not come as a surprise that the legal environment—the sets of rules, rights, and obligations applicable to anyone operating in the field—is highly complex as well. This is already true even if merely focusing at the international level, where the myriad domestic regimes play varying roles—largely neglected in this particular article—in implementing, interpreting, refining, enforcing, or even changing …

The Important Contributions Of The Special Court For Sierra Leone On Amnesties And Immunities: Reinforcing Foundational Principles Of International Criminal Law, Leila Nadya Sadat

Scholarship@WashULaw

The book that is the centerpiece of this Micro-Symposium, The Legal Legacy of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, is an important contribution to international law and practice. Authored by Charles Jalloh, a distinguished practitioner of international criminal law, the book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the legal ramifications of the Special Court and its work. It is comprehensive, without being overwhelming, and analyzes many of the most important elements of the Court’s legal work. It is a perfect companion to his equally excellent edited book on the subject, The Sierra Leone Special Court and Its …

India's Aadhaar Card - A Violation Of Indian Citizen's Right To Privacy, Sonal Chhugani

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The article examines the implications of India's Aadhaar Card program, arguing that while it may comply with Indian law, it violates the right to privacy under Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Aadhaar Card, a mandatory biometric identification system, centralizes vast amounts of citizen data, posing significant risks to privacy and security. Despite the Indian Supreme Court's ruling that the program does not violate domestic privacy rights, the article contends that it fails to meet international privacy standards, necessitating reforms to align with global human rights obligations.

Applicability Of International Schemes Of Legal Safeguards In Physician Assisted Suicide To Future United States Policy, Annie M. Bonazzi

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note argues that the United States can draw from international models, particularly those in Switzerland, Colombia, and Australia, to develop a more cohesive and effective policy on physician-assisted suicide (PAS). By combining existing U.S. state safeguards with international approaches, such as Colombia's panel-based system and Switzerland's nonprofit mechanism, the U.S. could address ethical, legal, and practical challenges more comprehensively.

Hong Kong Small House Policy: Modernity, Crisis, Morality & Policies For Repair, Conor J. Hyatt

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note critiques Hong Kong's Small House Policy (SHP), arguing that it is unconstitutional and perpetuates inequality by granting exclusive housing rights to male indigenous villagers, while failing to address the city's severe housing crisis. The policy discriminates based on gender, ethnicity, and class, violating the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. The author contends that the SHP is outdated, unsustainable, and contributes to fraudulent practices, urging its replacement with a more equitable housing system.

California's Autonomy Under The Clean Air Act: Does Epa Have The Authority To Withdraw An Emissions Standards Waiver?, Ethan Siegel

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note argues that the EPA lacks the authority to unilaterally revoke the 2013 Clean Air Act (CAA) waiver granted to California. It contends that the EPA must rely on preemption under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) rather than asserting inherent authority or reinterpretation of the CAA text to justify revocation.

Comment On Trophies For The Empire: A New York Perspective On Greek Claims To The Parthenon Sculptures At The British Museum, Raymond J. Dowd

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The article argues that Greece has a strong legal case for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, particularly if issues like statutes of limitations and sovereign immunity are overlooked. It suggests that under New York law, Greece would likely succeed and encourages Greece to pursue legal action, potentially through a declaratory judgment in Greek courts to resolve the legal dispute and influence public opinion.

Trophies For The Empire: The Epic Dispute Between Greece And England Over The Parthenon Sculptures In The British Museum, David Rudenstine

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The article challenges the British Museum's claim to the Parthenon sculptures, arguing that the evidence undermines the legality and ethics of their acquisition. It asserts that Lord Elgin's removal of the sculptures was unauthorized and involved bribery, and that the British Museum's defense relies on flawed historical interpretations and misrepresentation of key documents. The article concludes that the moral and legal arguments increasingly favor the repatriation of the sculptures to Greece.

International Working Group On Polar Shipping: Report To The Executive Council And Assembly Of The Comité Maritime International, Aldo Chircop

Reports & Public Policy Documents

This report covers the reporting period from 1 November 2020 to 31 May 2021. The IWG Chair acknowledges updates provided by the subgroup chairs. The IWG continues to operate through three subgroups, namely on Antarctic Shipping (chaired by David Baker), COLREGS in Polar Environments (chaired by Stefanie Johnston) and Cruise Passengers’ Rights (chaired by Lars Rosenberg Overby). While progress has been made, unfortunately the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has continued to affect aspects of the IWG’s work.

Self-Defense To Cyber Force: Combatting The Notion Of 'Scale And Effect', Thomas Eaton

Scholarly Works

The ability to reach out, with a few keystrokes or a couple lines of code, through the interconnected world of cyberspace and create militarily advantageous effects 10,000 miles away has changed warfare as previously conceived, perhaps more than any other advancement in any other domain of war. Cyber weapons are weapons, and whatever law applies to conventional weapons equally applies to cyber weapons. Long before cyber operations were even science fiction, there was much debate over what constituted a use of force that would justify force in response. In many ways, the debate over what constitutes cyber-attacks has been pasted …

International Law As Behavior: An Agenda, Harlan G. Cohen, Timothy Meyer

Scholarly Works

Over the past few decades, scholars in a variety of fields – economics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and international relations, among others – have made enormous strides studying the behavioral roots of international law by exploring individual motivations, describing organizational cultures, and mapping communities of practice. Taken together, the work of these scholars presents a complex, nuanced understanding of how international law works. However, these projects are rarely considered together: often separated by academic enclosures and focused on different subfields within international law, communication among scholars using different methodologies is restricted. The goal of this book is to break down some …

Are We (Americans) All International Realists Now?, Harlan G. Cohen

Scholarly Works

Is American international law distinctly legal realist? The claim is often made, but underexplored. What would it mean for American international law scholarship and practice to be legal realist in its orientation? Where would such an orientation come from, and what do those origin stories mean for current international law work? Are there common realist-inspired approaches within the varied schools of American international law scholarship? Does wielding those approaches produce distinctly American views on international law doctrine, its operation, or its function? And if American international law scholarship and practice is, in these ways, somewhat distinct, what does it mean …

Interpretive Entrepreneurs, Melissa J. Durkee

Scholarly Works

Private actors interpret legal norms, a phenomenon I call "interpretive entrepreneurship." The phenomenon is particularly significant in the international context, where many disputes are not subject to judicial resolution and there is no official system of precedent. Interpretation can affect the meaning of laws over time. For this reason, it can be a form of "post hoc" international lawmaking, worth studying alongside other forms of international lobbying and norm entrepreneurship by private actors. The Article identifies and describes the phenomenon through a series of case studies that show how, why, and by whom it unfolds. The examples focus on entrepreneurial …

Introduction To The Symposium On Frédéric Mégret, "Are There 'Inherently Sovereign Functions' In International Law?", Melissa J. Durkee

Scholarly Works

Imagine a future in which the U.S. government has closed the postal service, shuttered its administrative apparatus, and stopped funding education. Confirmation battles have dismantled the federal judiciary, with most adjudication now performed by private arbitrators. After years of erosion of public standards, corporate environmental and labor practices are now left to voluntary self-regulation and market pressures. Private military and security companies command and regulate a vast military infrastructure, executing contracts to meet U.S. intelligence and defense requirements. Prisons have been fully privatized. After losing faith in elections, the U.S. populace no longer insists on them. The country is administered …

Wrongful Extradition: Reforming The Committal Phase Of Canada’S Extradition Law, Robert Currie

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

There has recently been an upswing in interest around extradition in Canada, particularly in light of the high-profile and troubling case of Hassan Diab who was extradited to France on the basis of what turned out to be an ill-founded case. Diab’s case highlights some of the problems with Canada’s Extradition Act and proceedings thereunder. This paper argues that the “committal stage” of extradition proceedings, involving a judicial hearing into the basis of the requesting state’s case, is unfair and may not be compliant with the Charter and that the manner in which the Crown conducts these proceedings contributes to …

Book Review: Research Handbook On Transnational Crime, Robert Currie

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

No abstract provided.

Book Review: The Right To A Fair Trial In International Law, Robert Currie

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

No abstract provided.

Regulating Wave, Tidal And Ocean Thermal Energy, Meinhard Doelle, Theodore Nsoe Adimazoya

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Ocean renewable energy sources hold the potential to contribute to the options of low-carbon energy sources and enhance the efforts by the global community to slow down climate change. In this Chapter, we provide a brief background on the current state of technology and development of wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy and consider their potential as forms of renewable energy as well as the potential negative environmental footprints of ocean renewable energy installation and development. Secondly, we examine the relevant international legal and policy framework governing ocean energy, highlighting in particular, the absence of a global legal instrument that …

Judicialization Of Election Disputes In Africa's International Courts, James Thuo Gathii, Olabisi D. Akinkugbe

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

This article assesses what benefit losers of high-stakes national elections think they will get from petitioning international courts in Africa. We seek to establish how judicial intervention differs before an election when there is a risk of an international law violation, versus after an election has occurred and the result is viewed as flawed. We address these questions by drawing on a set of disputes decided by international courts in Africa in the African Court, the Economic Community of West African States (“ECOWAS”) Community Court of Justice, and the East African Court of Justice. We supplement our analysis by discussing …

Book Review: Amal Clooney & Philippa Webb, The Right To A Fair Trial In International Law (Oup, 2020), Robert Currie

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Good lawyering, then, is required to maintain the fairness of trials, but good lawyering requires effective tools that can assist counsel in helping the contours of fairness be made apparent and cognizable before domestic courts. Translating international human rights law for the purposes of domestic application, in particular, is by no means an easy task, but this new text – The Right to a Fair Trial in International Law – provides lawyers with a formidable resource.

The Italian Model To Fight Covid-19: Regional Cooperation, Regulatory Inflation, And The Cost Of One-Size-Fits-All Lockdown Measures, Fernanda Giorgia Nicola Dr.

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

What has come to be known worldwide as the Italian model to fight COVID-19 was a series of governmental measures undertaken in early 2020 to reduce the contagion of a deadly virus ravaging the northern regions of Italy—especially Lombardy, Veneto, and Piedmont. These measures included quarantine or lockdown throughout the Italian territory, together with the revamping of hospitals, followed by economic recovery packages to address the standstill of the national economy. This Article focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the Italian model. By highlighting the initial missteps, we can understand how this turned into a productive national and regional …

Establishing State Responsibility In Mitigating Climate Change Under Customary International Law, Vanessa S.W. Tsang

LL.M. Essays & Theses

As acknowledged in the Paris Agreement’s Preamble, climate change is a “common concern of humankind.” To tackle the anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) at source, State governments played a pivotal role in implementing climate change policies. It thus justifies the approach of looking into the solutions to climate change from a state responsibility perspective. As mentioned by James Crawford, “[a]ny system of law must address the responsibility of its subjects for breaches of their obligations.” The finding of state responsibility in mitigating climate change will complement the treaty-based climate change regime, providing grounds for climate change litigations and policy formulation.

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The Fallacy Of Consent: Should Arbitration Be A Creature Of Contract?, Fabio Núñez Del Prado

Emory International Law Review

Arbitration is a creature of contract. This paradigm is so basic that it is accepted in all the States of the world. Nevertheless, arbitration is perceived as the most suitable method for the settlement of commercial disputes. Virtually all commercial disputes are resolved through arbitration. The natural order of things has been reversed. In commercial matters, at least, arbitration is the rule, and courts the exception. Why is it, then, that parties must opt in for a solution which appears as the most natural one in the community? I propose to question this default rule and propose an extreme shift: …

The Sovereign Citizen Movement: A Comparative Analysis With Similar Foreign Movements And Takeaways For The United States Judicial System, Mellie Ligon

Emory International Law Review

The Moorish Sovereign Citizens Movement began as an offshoot of the overarching Sovereign Citizens Movement in the United States in the 1990s by former followers of the Washitaw Nation and Moorish Science Temple of America. The Moorish Sovereign Citizens Movement follows an anti-government ideology, based in the idea the current American government is illegitimate and has been operating under false pretenses since as early as the 19th century. Though disagreement among the members of the movement regarding what spurred this covert change from a legitimate to an illegitimate government exists, examples of the different catalysts include the U.S. abandonment of …