Topic 1

A little-noticed recent development in multilateral treaty law may have potentially explosive consequences for U.S.

I. Introduction

Introduction

Presentación

El reciente cambio de facto de gobierno en Honduras se rodea por confusión jurídica. Algo de ella es consecuencia del debate político apasionado sobre el Presidente Manuel Zelaya y su destitución de facto. Sin entrar en ese debate, este análisis se dirige exclusivamente al derecho internacional y a las cuestiones jurídicas relacionadas.

Introduction

Legal confusion has clouded the recent de facto change of government in Honduras. Some of this arises from the passionate political debate over President Manuel Zelaya and his de facto removal. Without entering that debate, this analysis addresses only questions of international law and related questions of law.

Introduction

Introduction

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) provides that foreign states shall be immune from the jurisdiction of U.S. courts unless the suit falls within a specified statutory exception to immunity. There is currently a conflict among the federal circuit courts over whether suits against individual foreign officials are covered by the FSIA. If such suits are not covered by the FSIA, additional questions are raised concerning a possible common law immunity for foreign officials. This Insight describes both the conflict and the additional questions.

Background

Introduction

A new swine influenza virus is causing outbreaks in humans in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and the virus has possibly spread to other countries. This outbreak has alarmed public health officials because of its epidemiological characteristics, which indicate that the virus may be able to cause a pandemic.