The International Bar Association’s Rule of Law Symposium on September 23 is the final day of the IBA’s week-long Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The IBA’s annual Rule of Law Symposium is open to the public.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will deliver keynote remarks following the session entitled "Voices of the Next Generation: Bringing Change to the Middle East." The “Voices” session will describe how the IBA and the CEELI Institute in Prague brought together young lawyers from the Middle East to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the role international law can play in resolving this conflict. In addition to hearing from young lawyers who participated in this dialogue, attendees also will hear from former diplomats and negotiators who have worked in the Middle East for decades, including Aaron David Miller.
The afternoon session, entitled "Combating International Terrorism: Implications for the Rule of Law", will feature, among others, Alberto Mora, past recipient of the IBA Rule of Law Award. During his tenure as General Counsel of the Navy, Mora opposed the legal theories of John Yoo, the former deputy director of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel and primary author of the now infamous “Torture Memo.” Mora fought to end coercive interrogation tactics at Guantanamo Bay, arguing they were unlawful. This session will address how efforts to combat global terrorism too often undermine the rule of law. An international panel of experts will address the challenge of mounting an effective campaign against global terrorism without impinging on the rule of law.