PPE Salon: “How Do International Human Rights Cases Get Adjudicated?”

Salon Description:

Human rights are a global concern, but prosecuting and adjudicating allegations involves a complex network of institutions. Thomas Kelley, James Dickson Phillips, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law at UNC, will discuss the legal process by which these claims get decided including certain countries’ claims of universal jurisdiction and the important role of regional human rights courts, the ICC, and the ICJ.

This salon will be held at Gourmet Kingdom on Monday, March 25, at 6:30 pm. Please use the form below to request a seat! Those selected to participate will receive a CLE Credit!

Salon Leader: Thomas Kelley

Tom Kelley joined the Carolina Law faculty in 1999. He serves as the James Dickson Phillips Distinguished Professor of Law and the faculty supervisor of the Community Development Law Clinic. His teaching and research interests include nonprofit organizations (with an emphasis on nonprofit social entrepreneurship) and international law (with an emphasis on Africa). Kelley earned a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. Before attending law school, he served as United States Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Niger. After law school, he clerked for James Dickson Phillips on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, then practiced law at Foley, Hoag & Eliot in Boston.

Short Readings: 

• https://www.icj-cij.org/court (the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ’s) official web page with history and description of its structure and functions. Focus on the link on the home page titled How the Court Works)

• https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/understanding-south-africa-v.-israel-at-the-international-court-of-justice (description of the ICJ with a focus on the South Africa v. Israel case; focus on the sections that describe how the ICJ works, including the limits on its jurisdiction)

• https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/01/south-africas-genocide-case-against-israel-international-court-justice-explained (a slightly more brief description of the South Africa v. Israel case along with a brief explanation of the difference between the ICJ and the International Criminal Court (ICC)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court (extensive Wiki description of the ICC. Focus on sections titled Crimes for Which Individuals Can Be Prosecuted, Jurisdiction and Admissibility, and Criticisms and Opposition)

• https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/10/19/basic-facts-universal-jurisdiction (a brief description of “universal jurisdiction,” the somewhat controversial notion that some international crimes are so extreme that any country in the world may claim jurisdiction to try and punish the offenders)