Transnational Law Blog

TLB Blogger Smokes the Competition at the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition

We would like to congratulate our fellow blogger and a founding member of TLB, Chris Cassidy, for his outstanding performance at the regional Saul Lefkowitz moot court competition, addressing issues of intellectual property. Chris and his teammate won best brief, best oralists, and were the first place team for the San Francisco area. They'll be competing in the national competition March 24th in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations! And good luck in D.C.!!!

TLB Blogger Dominates Jessup International Moot Court Competition

We would like to congratulate Nema Milaninia and his teammates for winning the Regional Jessup International Moot Court Competition. Representing UC Hastings, they took the prizes for First and Second Place Oralists and Best Brief.  Next up are the International Rounds held in Washington, D.C. Good luck everyone!

For more information about the Jessup International Moot Court Competition, check out "Judging Jessup" at Opinio Juris.

TLB Blogger Coaches Winning Moot Court Team

UC Hasting won numerous awards at the Stetson University International Environmental Moot Court Competition (see the results here), and TLB is proud to claim the winning team's coach, Nema Milaninia, as one of its bloggers. Amongst other awards, they won the Best Applicant Brief and the First Place Oralist awards! Congratulations!

Also, keep an eye on TLB blogger Christopher Cassidy, who is representing the nationally renowned Hastings Moot Court Team at the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Law Competition this spring. Good luck, Chris!

Upcoming International Law Events at UC Hastings

Land Conservation in China and Southeast Asia

Ed Norton will be discussing his work with the Nature Conservancy on the Yunnan Great Rivers Project, as well as his current work in Southeast Asia. Norton is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He lived in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, and directed the Nature Conservancy's Great Rivers Project from 1998 until 2005. He is currently Deputy Director of TNC in Southeast Asia, based in Bali.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 8, 3:30-5:30 PM.

WHERE: UC Hastings, 198 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, Room G (2nd floor).

International Law Panel & Reception

Hosted by Hastings International & Comparative Law Society and UC Hastings Career Services, the panel will feature practitioners in public and private international law. The panelists are Bruce Boyd (Preston, Gates & Ellis LLP); Moira Feeney (Center for Justice and Accountability); Mary Noel Pepys, international judicial reform specialist; Troy Rice (Baker & McKenzie); and Jason Schwarz (DPK Consulting).

WHEN: Wednesday, November 8, 5:30-7 PM.

WHERE: UC Hastings, 100 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, in the Clara Foltz Lounge.

Upcoming Events at UC Hastings

HJLSA Presents: International Law and Morality in Armed Conflict

The UC Hastings Jewish Law Student Association is presenting a symposium entitled, "International Law and Morality in Armed Conflict." The featured speaker is Professor Amos N. Guiora. He is a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and director of the Institute for Global Security Law and Policy.

WHEN: 4-5:30 PM, Monday, October 23rd

WHERE: UC Hastings, Room B at 198 McAllister Street, San Francisco

A reception will be held afterward. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

HICLR Presents: The Schlesinger Lecture Featuring Rashid Khalidi

The UC Hastings International and Comparative Law Review is hosting Rashid Khalidi. He holds the Edward Said Chair in Arab Studies at Columbia University, where he heads the Middle East Institute. He has written more than eighty articles on Middle Eastern history and politics, as well as op-ed pieces in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and The Nation. He will be discussing his book, The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood.

WHEN: 12:40 PM, Wednesday, October 25th.

WHERE: UC Hastings, Room A at 198 McAllister Street, San Francisco

A reception and book signing will follow in the Clara Foltz Lounge. This event may sell out. A seat can be reserved by emailing [email protected] (subject line: "Schlesinger"). MCLE credit available.

[UPDATE: Audio of Mr. Khalidi's discussion of The Iron Cage is now online free of charge, thanks to the World Affairs Council of Northern California.  It runs just under one hour.]

Recommended Reading: The Search for Deliberative Democracy in China

The Search for Deliberative Democracy in China was recently released and we here at TLB highly recommend it. Chris Cassidy and Travis Hodgkins-- we're contributors here at TLB-- had the pleasure of working as research assistants for one of the book's editors, Ethan Leib. Here is what the publisher said about the book:

This book investigates whether the theory of "deliberative democracy"--developed in the West to focus democratic theory on the legitimation that deliberation can afford--has any application to Chinese processes of democratization. It discovers pockets of theory especially useful to guide Chinese practices and pockets of Chinese practice that can, in turn, educate the West on possibilities for innovative uses of deliberative democratic theory.

On Prawf's Blog (see here), Leib said, "[I]t is great that more people are being made aware of the exciting political theorizing taking place in China today." His book is a compilation of essays written by experts from all over the globe, including prominent Chinese scholars. The essays elucidate the historical foundations for deliberative democracy in China; the contemporary forms of deliberation in China's political landscape; and hypothesize about China's future democratization as it continues to synthesize with the West. This book is good reading for anyone interested in the hybridization of the east and west or China in general.

The UC Hastings Symposium About The War on Terror

(Editor's Note: TLB would like to thank Diana Sanchez for her numerous behind the scenes contributions to this blog, which includes providing us with an audio recording of the panel discussion. TLB wouldn't be the same without her. Thanks, D!)

Law schools around the nation protested the “War on Terror” on Thursday, October 5th, by having teach-ins at which both students and professors missed class in order to address the fundamental transnational issues facing the US and its legal system.  At UC Hastings, the American Constitutional Society and Amnesty International hosted a panel presentation on “The War on Terror: Guantanamo Bay & Domestic Implications.” The ACS will host another panel discussion about the boundaries of the executive power on Tuesday, October 10th, at 3:40 PM, in room A.

The "The War on Terror" panel featured four speakers, which are listed below in the order they presented. Listen to the panel introduction by Professor William Dodge here: Download hastingsintro.mp3

Joel Paul is a UC Hastings professor with expertise in international trade law and the WTO, presidential powers in foreign relations, foreign relations law, public international law, and international business transactions. Professor Paul discussed what constitutes a war. Listen to it here: Download hastingspaul.mp3

Evan Lee is a UC Hastings professor with expertise in  appellate, constitutional law-Fed, and criminal law. He discussed the issues surrounding domestic surveillance and warrantless wiretapping. Listen to it here: Download hastingslee.mp3

Ian Wallach is a UC Hastings alumnus and former habeas counsel for several Guantanamo Bay detainees. See his article on the Jurist entitled, "No Habeas at Guantanamo? The Executive and the Dubious Tale of the DTA". He discussed his experiences representing detainees held at the Navy base in Guantanamo Bay. Listen to it here: Download hastingswallach.mp3

William Dodge is the UC Hastings associate academic dean and a professor with expertise in contracts, international business transactions, international litigation, and NAFTA Chapter Eleven. He is the driving force behind Hastings new transnational law course, and he is a former contributing member of Opinio Juris. Professor Dodge discussed the recently legislated Military Commissions Act and its many ramifications. Listen to it here: Download hastingsdodge.mp3

Listen to the Q & A session here: Download hastingsQA.mp3

What is written below is meant to be a rough summary of the panel's discussion.  For a more in depth discussion please listen to the audio links.

A Panel Discussion About The War on Terror, Guantanamo Bay, & Domestic Implications

UC Hastings is hosting a symposium presented by the ACS & Amnesty International entitled, "The War on Terror, Guantanomo Bay, and Domestic Implications". The speakers will address the rights of prisoners being held at Guantanomo Bay, domestic wire tapping, and the recent legislation regarding military commissions, the Geneva Conventions, and the USA's stance on torture.

WHEN: 12:40 PM, Thursday, October 5th

WHERE: UC Hastings, Room G at 198 McAllsiter Street, San Francisco.