Domestic Enforcement of Public International Law After Sanchez Llamas v. Oregon: A Symposium

The Lewis & Clark Law Review has published a useful and timely symposium on the significance of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sanchez-Llamas v. Oregon. In Sanchez-Llamas, the U.S. Supreme Court decided, among other things, that it would not reverse its interpretation of a treaty because of a contrary interpretation by the International Court of Justice. The larger significance of this decision was probably lost amid the hoopla over the Supreme Court’s decision the next day in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. But Hamdan was largely reversed by Congress a few months later while the long term effects of Sanchez-Llamas remain uncertain. For this reason, this symposium is a terrific opportunity to shine the light on this potentially important decision.



This symposium is full of blogger-professors. In addition to yours truly, Opinio Juris co-blogger Peggy McGuinness and Opinio Juris guest-blogger Janet Levit have contributions in this symposium. Bloggers Melissa Waters and Paul Stephan also have essays. The symposium will not be the last word on Sanchez-Llamas, but it is certainly an important first word.