In association with the International Commission of Jurists

Author: Kevin Jon Heller

11 May

Because the "Untold Stories" symposium that Gerry Simpson and I organized was such a success, we are organizing another one.  Here is the call for papers: THE EICHMANN TRIAL AT 50 A two-day international symposium to discuss one of the most important trials of the 20th Century Melbourne Law School 14-15 October 2011 Presented by The Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law, Melbourne Law School,...

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10 May

I am proud and delighted to report that my former student and current friend, Golriz Ghahraman, has accepted a position as a prosecutor at the ECCC.  I don't think I'm old enough or distinguished enough to have a protege -- but if I am, she's it.  Golriz, who is Iranian-Kiwi, is by far the most gifted student I've ever had,...

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07 May

I hope readers have been following the backlash against CUNY's Board of Trustees for its cowardly decision not to award Tony Kushner an honorary degree from John Jay college because one trustee -- with no notice, and giving Kushner no opportunity to respond -- lied about his political beliefs and accused him of being "anti-Israel."  Here is a bit of...

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04 May

Following up on my previous post, Obama has announced that he will not release photos of Usama bin Laden's body: It is important to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool," said the president. "We don't trot...

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04 May

His name?  John Ashcroft.  Yep, that John Ashcroft: The consortium in charge of restructuring the world’s most infamous private-security firm just added a new chief in charge of keeping the company on the straight and narrow. Yes, John Ashcroft, the former U.S. attorney general, is now an “independent director” of Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater. Ashcroft will...

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02 May

The media is reporting that the Obama administration is handling Usama bin Laden's remains in accordance with Islamic principles.  That decision is a stark reminder of why we are so fortunate that a Republican is no longer President.  When the Bush administration killed Uday and Qusay Hussein, recall, it infuriated Muslims and at least arguably violated the First Additional Protocol...

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29 Apr

Honestly, he does.  The email doesn't lie: Attention, Beneficiary Due to the petitions received by the UN, I Secretary-General Ban ki-moon from all over the continent in regards to the fraudulent activities going on in the West Africa sub-region with security's agent and diplomats who has been delaying people's funds, consignment and valuables in their custody and demand outrageous fees to get...

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27 Apr

Not surprisingly, conservatives and the Obama administration are falling all over themselves to praise Paul Clement for his brave willingness to represent the House of Representatives at the low, low rate of $520.00 per hour -- practically pro bono.  The idea that zealous representation is an end in itself, regardless of client or cause, is one of the most basic...

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26 Apr

At Lawfare today, Ben Wittes criticizes King & Spalding for refusing to help the House of Representatives defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court.  His argument turns on an analogy between representing the House and representing Gitmo detainees: Sometimes, the politically unpopular client is the House of Representatives, not a Guantanamo detainee. Sometimes, the contested legal questions...

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