Universal jurisdiction, as a legal practice, is profoundly undemocratic and leads to a form of enforced political morality. ++ Last week London issued, and then retracted, a warrant for former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on war crimes allegedly committed by Israeli security forces last year in the Gaza strip. ++ The political fallout for this failed attempt by human rights lawyers will
... More
The hijacking of a Saudi-owned oil tanker is unprecedented but only part of the recent, dramatic rise in piracy. ++ Capturing pirates in not a major problem, but due process makes dealing with captive pirates more complex than in the 1700s. ++ Universal jurisdiction should be applied in this case, allowing any state to try and punish pirates. ++ States should then try them in military courts. ++
... More
