International Law Prof Blog

ABILA: International Law Weekend Will be October 16-18 in New York

International Law Weekend 2008 will be held October 16-18, 2008, at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West 44th Street, New York City.

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This is a great event, sponsored by ABILA (the American Branch of the International Law Association) and made possible in large part by heroic volunteers from the International Law Students Association (ILSA).

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The Weekend's overall theme is The United States and International Law: Legal Traditions and Future Possibilities. The lead-off panel on Thursday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m., entitled A New Presidency:  A New U.S. Policy at the U.N.?, will include Republican and Democratic strategists and academic commentators. 

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The keynote speaker at the annual luncheon on Friday, October 17, at 12:30 p.m. will be John Bellinger, the Legal Adviser to the U.S. Department of State.

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That Friday evening, the Annual Gala Reception will be hosted by the Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations.

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The ILW 2008 Program will also feature more than 30 other panels, addressing topics relating to international trade and investment, international adjudication and arbitration, human rights, international law in U.S. courts, generation of international law, transitional justice and international criminal law, and protection of the international environment. To view the complete ILW schedule and to register for the conference, please visit http://www.ilsa.org/conference/ILW.php or www.ambranch.org.

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Hat tip to Jill Schmieder Hereau

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(mew)

Canadian Council on International Law

The Canadian Council on International Law 37th Annual Conference will be held October 16-18 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Canada.  Click here for more information.

(mew)

ICJ: Briefing Schedule in Mexico v. U.S. (Interpretation of Avena)

  The International Court of Justice has fixed dates for further submission of written explanations in the case that Mexico brought against the United States for an interpretation of the ICJ's judgment in Avena.  Mexico is to submit its written materials by September 17, and the United States is to respond by October 6, 2008.  Visit the ICJ's website for more information about the proceedings.

(mew)

International Court of Arbitration: Conference on Bridging the Cultural Gap in International Arbitration

The International Court of Arbitration, with support from the United States Council for International Business (the U.S. national committee to the International Chamber of Commerce), will host the Third Annual New York Conference on "ICC Arbitration Today: Bridging the Cultural Gap in International Arbitration."  The conference takes place at the Hilton New York on Monday, September 15, 2008.  Click here for more information.

(mew)

U.S. State Department Denies Visas to Witnesses in Federal Court Trial

A federal judge lambasted the U.S. State Deparment for denying visas to 11 witnesses from Nigeria who were scheduled to testify in federal court.  Click here to read more.

ABA International Law Section Accepting Proposals for Spring Meeting

  The International Law Section of the American Bar Association is soliciting proposals for CLE programs for its spring meeting scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C. from April 14-18, 2009.  Proposals must have the support of at least one of the Section Committees.  The Section Committees and Chairs are listed on the ABA website.  Here are some guidlines for submitting proposals.  All proposals must be submitted electronically.  The online submission form can be accessed by clicking here. 

(cgb)

Condoleeza Visits Libya

U.S. Secretary of State Condolezza Rice will visit Libya later this week.  It will be the first visit to Libya by a senior U.S. diplomat in more than 50 years.  (She will also visit Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Portugal during her current trip.)

(mew)

P.S. for flag trivia fans -- the flag of Libya is solid green, with other colors and no symbols of any kind.  It is the only single color flag in the world.

Bolivia: National Electoral Court Says Upcoming Referendum on a New Constitution is Void

The New York Times reports today that Bolivia's National Electoral Court has annulled a decree by President Evo Morales, who had called for a December 7 referendum on a new constitution for Bolivia.  The court said that the authority to call for a referendum rested with Congress, not the President.  President Morales is presently on a state visit to Iran.   

(mew)

Remembering a Bombing in Baghdad

We remember the bombing of the United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad five years ago last month.  Here are photos from the U.N. Headquarters in New York, and a link here to a memorial statement just issued by the U.N. Secretary General.  Click on any of the photos to enlarge it and to read the names of the U.N. officials who were killed.

(mew)

OSCE Condemns Killing of Russian Journalist

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) condemned the killing of Magomed Yevloyev, an opposition journalist who had been arrested by police when he arrived at an airport, but who was "accidentally" shot in the temple by police whle being transported to the police station.  Other opposition journalists killed in Russia in recent years include Anna Politkovskaya and Paul Klebnikov.  Click here to read more.

(mew)

Three More Prisoners Leave Guantanamo

The U.S. military has released three more prisoners from Guantanamo.  One was sent to Pakistan and two were sent to Afghanistan.  There was no information available about the identity of the men who were released.  The U.S. military has now released more than 500 prisoners from Guantanamo, but an estimated 255 persons are still being held there.

(mew)

Coronation Ceremonies Completed Now for King George Tupou V of Tonga

Several weeks ago we reported about the coronation ceremonies for George Tupou V of Tonga.  The ceremonies have now finally ended with a Royal picnic on Nuku Island, Vava'u, on August 21, 2008.  The official celebration took 22 days, from the start on August 1st in Nuku'alofa (the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga) until August 22 when the king left the Lupepau'u Airport , Vava'u to return to Tongatapu.  Click here for more information (including photos) from Matangi Tonga Online.

Click here for one of our earlier posts on Tonga.

Hat tip to the East-West Center in Honolulu.

(mew)

No Third Class Processes for Foreigners

Here's a link to a new article from Ben Davis at the University of Toledo.  It is Northwestern Law Review's online Colloquy.  In the article he puts together several themes about the Military Commission process.

(mew)

Brazil: Supreme Court Chief Justice had his Phone Tapped!

President Luiz Inancio Lula da Silva yesterday suspended the head of Brazil's intelligence service over a scandal involving telephone wiretaps.  Among those phones who were tapped is the Chief Justice of Brazil's Supreme Court. 

Can readers from Brazil fill us in a little bit more on this?

(mew)

Thailand: Prime Minister Declares State of Emergency

After 100 days of protest against him, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency in Thailand.  It was invoked under the Executive Decree for National Administration under an Emergency Situation.   The Bangkok Post reports that the state of emergency is to remain in effect until November 30.  Click here to read more about the state of emergency in Thailand. 

The current prime minister is accused of being a "front man" for the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who just agreed to sell the Manchester City soccer club to Abu Dhabi United Group in the United Arab Emirates.  Some saw the sale as a way to raise cash to finance new elections in Thailand.  Click here to read more about the sale of the Manchester City soccer club. 

(mew)