EXPERT ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS

On Monday at the opening of the twenty-third session of the Assembly of State Parties in The Hague, Prosecutor Khan announced that the Court would seek to issue arrest warrants for figures responsible for crimes against humanity in Afghanistan saying: “In relation to Afghanistan we will be announcing applications for arrest warrants in the Afghanistan [...]

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On November 19, President Vladimir Putin announced a revised nuclear strike doctrine that escalated the consequences of the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The Russian nuclear strike has become much more probable than before. The NATO countries, particularly the United States, should not dismiss what Putin says as mere threatening rhetoric but should accept it at its face [...]

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“A republic, if you can keep it.” –Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel’s question: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” The rule of law lies at the heart of any functioning democracy, serving as a cornerstone for justice, equality, and the very fabric of society itself. As the United [...]

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In September, a federal lawsuit settlement forced Florida’s Nassau County public school district to restore 36 books featuring race-related or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) themes to bookshelves. Among the books is the award-winning And Tango Makes Three, which tells the true story of two male penguins who raise a chick together at the Central Park Zoo. [...]

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Now that the election is over, people might wonder what role the Supreme Court will play during Donald Trump’s second term. If the new president engages in behavior threatening to the Constitution and the rule of law, will the justices try to stop him, or will they move even further to the right? No one [...]

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The rule of law is the bedrock of international relations and human rights, ensuring that nations adhere to established norms to protect humanity during times of conflict. Within this framework, the laws of armed conflict delineate appropriate conduct in wartime through fundamental principles: military necessity, proportionality, unnecessary suffering, and discrimination. The foundational tenet of the [...]

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“A government of laws, and not of men.” John Adams (1774) Incoming US president Donald J. Trump’s obeisance to Russia’s Vladimir Putin is well-documented. Such behavior is sometimes much more serious than a matter of personal dereliction. In consideration of Putin’s ongoing crimes against Ukraine, it represents a time-urgent matter of law and justice. Though [...]

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Imagine sitting on the subway in the middle of the afternoon, going about your day, when armed officers abruptly board the train, apparently in pursuit of someone. Within minutes, the officers deploy tasers and suddenly the sound of guns firing deafens you. People are terrified, screaming and bleeding. And all this chaos began over a [...]

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Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has led to widespread death and suffering. There are thousands of recorded instances of torture, inhumane treatment and sexual violence, as well as destruction of property, with vast swathes of  residential areas and civilian infrastructure across the country destroyed by Russian artillery. The economic losses are immense, with the Register [...]

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For too long, this country’s criminal legal system has perpetuated violence, brutality, and murder, with Black people bearing the brunt. While methods may change, the underlying outcomes remain the same. The modern-day manifestation of our nation’s history of anti-Black violence is perhaps most apparent in capital punishment. Marcellus Khaliifah Williams – father, poet, and imam [...]

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