Online Editor 
The Supreme Court opened up its October term with a healthy dose of international law in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Shell. The petitioner, Esther Kiobel, is bringing suit against Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) alleging that the oil company aided and abetted the Nigerian government in committing gross human rights violations in the oil rich Ogoni … Read more
According to USA Today, President Mohammed el-Megaref called for “all of the country’s militia to come under government authority or disband.” This move appears to be aimed at harnessing popular sentiment against the militia groups around the country. Since the revolution last year that saw such groups topple Dictator Moammar Gadhafi, there has been public … Read more
Earlier this month, the Nevada Supreme Court became only the second US court to recognize its consular obligations under international law articulated by the International Court of Justice. Yes, that’s right; Nevada’s high court responded to the ICJ’s call in Avena and Other Mexican Nationals to review certain cases for prejudice stemming from violations of foreign nationals’ consular rights. This … Read more
It’s true – China, Russia, and Assad have quite the love affair. It’s no secret that Russia and China blocked the Arab League’s request to the United Nations Security Council for intervention in Syria because of their own national interests. Russia loves selling AK-47s to Bashar al-Assad. China enjoys a monopoly over Syria’s imports. But … Read more
Yesterday, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law hosted Eric Sirotkin, a widely regarded peacebuilder and mediator who has worked to resolve conflict in the Koreas and South Africa (to name just a few). Earlier this year, he presented a Peace Conference hosted by the North Korean government. He created a twelve-step plan to … Read more
Two years ago the Taliban held large strips of Afghanistan predominately in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand. In response, NATO padded their forces with an additional 33,000 Marines and Army soldiers to combat the Taliban in these areas. The last of these “surge” troops left Afghanistan September 21 after accomplishing their objective … Read more
China is embroiled in maritime territorial disputes, not only with Japan over control of a group of tiny islands in the East China Sea, but also with The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei over the island chains of the Spratleys and Paracels in the South China Sea. The dispute with Japan over the Senkaku (in … Read more
Gambia, a small country in West Africa, was once a leader in its region working towards abolishing the death penalty in law and in practice. Up until recently, the Gambian government had not executed anyone under the death penalty for about thirty years. However, on August 19, 2012, President Yahya Jammeh announced implementation of a … Read more
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court approved Chancellor Angela Merkel’s proposal to support the bailout plan for the 17 countries in the euro zone: the European Stability Mechanism (“E.S.M.”). The ESM, a continental version of the International Monetary Fund, will handle bailouts and work with the European Central Bank to buy the bonds … Read more
While running through my piracy news roundup yesterday morning, I came across this piece by Robert Young Pelton of Somalia Report. In it, Pelton criticizes a report by Australia’s Lowy Institute that deals with the use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP). I took particular interest in a small tangent within Pelton’s piece that reflects an incorrect sentiment that … Read more
The Denver Journal of International Law & Policy is one of the oldest international law journals in the United States and is ranked internationally. It is managed and edited by students at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
