Opinio Juris

"A forum for informed discussion and lively debate about international law and international relations. The Opinio Juris team of authors holds a wide range of views from across the political spectrum and brings a range of experience from their pre-academic careers in government, private legal practice and the NGO community. We encourage civil and respectful dialogue among our bloggers, readers (who may post comments), and guest-bloggers. Our goal is to be both informative and thought-provoking by fostering vigorous intellectual engagement without vitriol. The marketplace of ideas is what we make of it."

Author: Roger P. Alford teaches at Pepperdine University School of Law ; Christopher J. Borgen teaches at St. John's University School of Law; Kevin Jon Heller teaches at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law in New Zealand; Duncan B. Hollis and Peter J. Spiro teach at Temple University Beasley School of Law; Julian Ku teaches at Hofstra Law School; Ken Anderson teaches at American University Washington College of Law; Peggy McGuinness teaches at the University of Missouri School of Law, Columbia; and Deborah Pearlstein is a visiting scholar at Princeton University's program in law and public affairs.

Recent Posts from Opinio Juris

Stand-By Counsel Appointed in the Karadzic Case
by Kevin Jon Heller by Kevin Jon Heller The ICTY has appointed Richard Harvey, a barrister with Garden Court Chambers in London, to serve as Dr. Karadzic’s stand-by counsel. There is no question that Mr.…
What Is It With France and Bad Officiating?
by Kevin Jon Heller by Kevin Jon Heller I haven’t irritated OJ purists by blogging about (international) sports for a while, so I think it’s only appropriate to point out that, for the second time…
The Responsibility of International Organizations: The Controversy Over Countermeasures
by Kristen Boon by Kristen Boon To continue with our earlier postings on issues of interest in the Draft Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations – a subject of current debate involves countermeasures. Countermeasures…
Harold Koh and the Filing of Statements of Interest
by Roger Alford One of the remarkable differences between the Obama Administration and the Bush Administration in terms of international litigation is the utter silence of this State Department in filing amicus briefs and/or statements…
The Constitutional Rights of Public Enemies in Armed Conflict
by John Dehn by John Dehn [Major John C. Dehn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Law, US Military Academy, West Point, NY. He currently teaches International Law and Constitutional and Military Law,…
Corruption in My Own Backyard
by Roger Alford This story from the New York Times about the corruption of Teodoro Obiang certainly hits close to home. His $35 million dollar estate in Malibu is just down the hill from Pepperdine.…
The Milošević Trial: An Autopsy
by Roger Alford I am forwarding this call for papers from Tim Waters at Indiana to be presented at a forthcoming conference on the Milosevic trial. Looks like a great event. The Indiana University Maurer…
Does Anyone Deserve Constitutional Rights?
by Tommy Crocker by Tommy Crocker A decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and four others in federal court in New York has sparked a new round of debate over detention policy. The Administration…
Non-self-executing Treaties and Reverse Preemption
by Roger Alford The Fifth Circuit earlier this month issued a highly unusual decision addressing whether state law could "reverse preempt" the New York Convention. As any student of international arbitration knows, state law occasionally…
Responsibility of International Organizations - The Problem of Attribution
by Greg Fox by Greg Fox I’d like to thank the folks at Opinio Juris for inviting me to reflect on the emerging body of rules addressing the responsibility of international organizations. My post will…