LAW 7129 :
International Criminal Law

This course is about some of the worst crimes people commit and what can be done about these acts under international law. From the prosecution of the Nazi war criminals to those against Joseph Kony, Saddam Hussein, Omar al-Bashir, and Bashar al-Assad, no area of law is as important to international peace and security as international criminal law. Intenational Criminal Law focuses on the prosecution of the most serious human rights abuses, also known as "mass atrocities," that include genocide, ware crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression. This class will introduce students to the historical development of international criminal law from the Holocaust to the present and will explore how international prosecutors bring cases against powerful governmental leaders responsible for international crimes. The course will discuss these prosecutions in courts trying these cases including domestic courts, the International Military Tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo, the International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the International Criminal Court, and 'hybrid' tribunals including those for conflicts in international prosecutions take place and the challenges they pose. There are no prerequisites for this course, although some background in International Law would be helpful. Take Home Exam