US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Stephen J. Rapp on “The Lubanga Verdict: Its Impact on the International Criminal Court and US Relations with the ICC”

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Jessica Wirth

Following the conviction of the ICC’s first defendant, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, for the war crime of enlisting and using child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the senior government officials dealing with international justice policy will discuss the verdict and what it means for the ICC and the evolving US relationship with the world’s first permanent international criminal tribunal. Ambassador Rapp, a former US Attorney and international prosecutor at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Special Court for Sierra Leone, won the first convictions in history for recruitment and use of child soldiers. Presented by Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights and its program, the American NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court (AMICC). Co-sponsored by the Columbia Society of International Law and the Human Rights Institute. Free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Following his speech, Ambassador Rapp will answer questions to be moderated by AMICC Convener John Washburn.

Thursday, April 19, 2012
12:10 – 1:10 pm
JG 102

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Money Laundering, Terror, and Sanctions: Practicing National Security Law at the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Jessica Wirth

The Columbia Society of International Law is pleased to welcome Danny Glaser ’93, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing, for a discussion on the Treasury’s role in national security through the use of sanctions, the USA PATRIOT Act, and anti-money laundering policies. He will share his own experiences – including the BDA crisis during the Six-Party Talks – and will  also offer his insights and answer student questions on building a career in the public sector after graduating from Columbia Law.  The conversation will be moderated by Professor Matthew Waxman.

Monday, April 9th, 12:10-1:10 in JG 940.

If you would like to attend, RSVP by Wednesday, April 4th to Marina Olevsky at meo2138@columbia.edu.

Non-pizza lunch will be provided.

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Terror Prosecutions: the Evolution of National Security Law Post-9/11 from the Perspective of a U.S. Attorney

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Jessica Wirth
Mary Jo White ’74, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York will discuss her extensive experience with terror prosecutions. She will also address recent developments in national security law, including NYPD surveillance of student groups, the competing advantages of military commissions and civilian courts for trials of enemy combatants, the use of material witness warrants, and drone attacks.

Moderated by Professor Matthew WaxmanIf you would like to attend, RSVP by Friday, March 30th to Marina Olevsky at meo2138@columbia.edu.

Thursday, April 5th
12:10-1:10pm in JG 107

Co-sponsored by the Columbia Society for International Law, the National Security and Law Society, and the Social Justice Initiative

Mary Jo White ’74 served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York between 1993 and 2002 — the first and only woman to have held that position. During her tenure as U.S. Attorney, Ms. White indicted and prosecuted several major terror suspects, including Ramzi Ahmed Yousef for his role in the 1993 WTC Bombing and “Blind Sheikh” Omar Abdel Rahman for conspiring to launch an urban bombing campaign in New York City. Ms. White’s office also indicted Osama Bin Laden for conspiring to destroy U.S. international defense installations, and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed for his role in the Bojinka Plot. Ms. White is credited with establishing the first terrorism unit at SDNY.

Prior to being appointed U.S. Attorney by President Clinton, Ms. White served as Acting United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 1990 to 1993. From 1983 to 1990, Ms. White was a litigation partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she focused on white collar defense work, SEC enforcement matters, and commercial and professional civil litigation. From 1978 to 1981, Ms. White served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she became Chief Appellate Attorney of the Criminal Division. Ms. White served as a law clerk to the Honorable Marvin E. Frankel, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Ms. White served on the board of the Columbia Law Review. She is currently Chair of Litigation at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.

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Friedmann Conference and Banquet on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Jessica Wirth

We’re pleased to invite you to this year’s Friedmann Conference and Banquet on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, honoring M. Cherif Bassiouni, a leader in the field of international criminal law.

The Conference, hosted by CSIL,  is themed “Courts, Judges, and Justice in the International Legal System” and will consist of three events, all in JG 106:

(1) 12:10-1:10pm: A talk by former Attorney General of the United States Michael Mukasey entitled “The United States and the International Criminal Court.” This event will be RSVP only and restricted to CLS students and faculty, but dues-paying CSIL members will get priority. Please RSVP to Alejo Cabranesalejo.cabranes@gmail.com stating that you are a CSIL member by Wednesday, March 28 at 5pm to ensure your place will be held.

(2) 4:30-5:20pm: A panel discussion entitled “The Role of the Independent Judiciary in Emerging Democracies”

(3) 5:30-6:20pm: A panel discussion entitled “The International Criminal Court and the Politics of Punishment”
Refreshments will be served at all events.

The Banquet, hosted by the Journal of Transnational Law, will be at 7pm at The 21 Club, 21 W. 52nd St., New York, NY 10019 (business formal attire required). CLS students can purchase tickets at the discounted price of $35 by visiting www.friedmannaward2012.eventsbot.com or by visiting a JTL table in Jerome Greene Hall over the next few days (look out for the JTL e-mails). Tickets must be purchased by Monday, March 26.

Please ensure you can attend before you RSVP for the Mukasey talk. If for some reason you RSVP but realize later that you cannot attend, let Alejo know as soon as possible.

Thanks! We hope to see you at these events!

–Mithun Kamath & Inbar Gal, Friedmann Conference Co-Chairs
–Alejo Cabranes, Kelly Finkelstein, Rohan Grey, & Sarah Mechlovitz, Friedmann Conference Vice-Chairs 
–David White & Jack Browning, CSIL Co-Presidents

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Save the Date: Careers in International & Foreign Governments

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Jessica Wirth

Please join the Columbia Society for International Law for a four-panel career symposium and networking event: Careers in International & Foreign Governments.  The event will take place on Wednesday, March 7, from 7:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in Jerome Greene Hall (room details below).  Following the symposium, please join us for a wine and cheese reception from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Lenfest Cafe.

The panels:
I. Private International Law
International Litigation & Arbitration
7:15 pm – 7:45 pm JG 104

International Corporate Transactions
7:45 pm – 8:30 pm JG 104

II. Public International Law:
The Expanding Role of International NGOs
7:15 pm – 7:45 pm JG 106

Careers in International & Foreign Governments
7:45 pm – 8:30 pm JG 106

WINE & CHEESE:
Wine and Cheese Reception (all are welcome)
8:30 pm – 9:45 pm Lenfest Cafe

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Q&A Session with Chairman of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee & Indian Ambassador to the UN Q&A Session with Chairman of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee & Indian Ambassador to the UN

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Jessica Wirth
Join the South Asian Law Students Association, SIPA’s South Asia Association, the United Nations Studies Program Working Group,  Columbia Conflict Resolution Working Group, and Defense & Security Student Organization for  an Interactive Q & A Sesssion with Ambassador Hardeep Puri, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and Chairman of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee.  Arvind Panagriva, Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy at Columbia University, will moderate.

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

7:00pm – 8:30 p.m.
Davis Auditorium (4th Floor), Morris A. Schapiro Center
530 West 120th Street between Amsterdam Ave & Broadway
(There is also an entrance from College walk, behind Uris Hall

Please RSVP at http://ambassadorindia.eventbrite.com/

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Lunch with Professor Yongping Xiao

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Jessica Wirth

The Society for Chinese Law and CSIL were please to host Professor Yonging Xiao, Dean and Luojia Special Service Professor of Private International law, Wuhan University School of Law, for a lunch conversation on Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

Dean Xiao is a leading expert in Private International Law in China. He also serves as deputy president of Chinese Society of Private International Law, arbitrator of China Chamber of International Commerce, among other positions. He was visiting scholar and lectured at various institutes, include University of Birmingham School of Law, Max-Planck Institute of Foreign Law and Private International Law, and Harvard-Yenching Institute.

The presentation will be followed by Q&A with the audience. A delegation from Wuhan University School of Law will also join for event to discuss the development of legal education in China, the future of U.S.-China legal exchange and cooperation, and other topics you may interested in:

  • Mr. HOU Zhenfa (侯振发), Vice Dean and Chief of Staff, Wuhan University School of Law
  • Mr. KANG Junxin (康均心), Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor of Criminal Law, Wuhan University School of Law
  • Mr. DU Jianwei (杜建伟), Associate Dean for Administrative and Finance, Wuhan University School of Law
  • Mr. LIU Xiang (刘翔), Deputy Director of Juris Master (JM) Program, Wuhan University School of Law
  • Mr. CHEN Feng (陈风), Director of Undergraduate Studies and Clinical Legal Education, Wuhan University School of Law

For background info on China’s First Choice-of-Law Act, read here.

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Adventures in Chinese Law: A Chat with Professor Ben Liebman

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Jessica Wirth

Join the Society for Chinese Law and CSIL as Columbia’s own Professor Ben Liebman tells us about some of the adventures he’s encountered over a career researching Chinese law.  Professor Liebman will discuss what law means to the Chinese government, legal academics, and people; predict the future direction of Chinese law; and regale us with stories of his adventures researching a legal system in which secret government decrees and sensationalist media reports can outweigh any judicial precedent.

Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Time: 12:10-1:10 p.m.
Location: JG 107

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Lunch on Chinese State Capitalism on Nov. 2

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jessica Wirth

The Columbia Society of International Law is hosting a lunch with Professor Curtis Milhaupt on Wednesday, November 2nd. Professor Milhaupt will make a short presentation on his current research regarding Chinese state capitalism before sitting down to an informal lunch with students. Students will have a rare opportunity to freely discuss international East Asian law with one of the field’s leading experts.

JG 546, Nov 2nd, 12:10-1:10
Non-pizza lunch will be served.

Limited seats are available; please RSVP to lem2181@columbia.edu.

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Commercial Space Regulation: Current Issues and Future Developments

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Jessica Wirth

On Monday, October 24, CSIL kicked off its 2011-2012 lunchtime speaker series with a talk by Professor Matthew Schaefer, Director of the Space, Cyber and Telecom Law Program at the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Professor Schaefer discussed how recent developments, including the phase-out of the shuttle program, successful tests by SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, anticipated docking with the ISS by SpaceX later this year, and the start of sub-orbital flights by Virgin Galactic next year, are impacting US commercial space regulation and international developments regarding commercial space regulation. With outer space activities impacting telecommunications, weather forecasting, banking, intelligence collection, and myriad other facets of daily life, increasing commercialization of space is creating challenges for the outer space treaties filled with general principles few detailed regulations.

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