Democracy, Governance, and Rule of Law

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

Beginning in 2010, legislators in half of the U.S. states proposed—and in two states adopted—a series of bills or state constitutional amendments designed to restrict the use of international law and foreign laws by state (and sometimes federal) courts.  This Insight will summarize the trend in adopting legislation hostile to international law and foreign laws and briefly discuss its causes and consequences.

State Bills and Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Introduction

A long-running crusade against the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools finally came to an end on March 18, 2011, in a judgment by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (“European Court”).

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

A complex international legal battle has been fought for more than a decade about holding former Chadian President Hissène Habré, dubbed the "African Pinochet" by human rights organizations, accountable for international crimes. In the latest development, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of Western African States ("ECOWAS Court") issued a decision in favor of Habré that might derail efforts to have Habré tried on behalf of the African Union ("AU") in Senegal, where he currently resides.

Introduction

This Insight reports further efforts to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia since Agora: Piracy Prosecutions—Countering Piracy off Somalia: International Law and International Institutions was prepared for the July 2010 issue of the American Journal of International Law.[1]

Introduction

Introduction

When humans first launched themselves into the air to attack their enemies, they used balloons. Later came planes and helicopters. The latest development in the area of airborne attacks takes the human operator out of the air. People may operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) thousands of miles from the drone’s location.[1]