MJIL Blog

Notice of Termination in the U.S. and Canada: Two Contrasting Approaches

By Lindsey Drozd In the United States, there is a common understanding that employees must give their employers two weeks’ notice before they resign. Two weeks’ notice is often described as a “courtesy,” but it’s so universally expected that it’s more of a social requirement. Skipping this step can result in substantial ill will from

Notice of Termination in the U.S. and Canada: Two Contrasting Approaches Read More »

Looking for American Action on Climate Change after the Paris Agreement? Don’t Look to the United States’ Judiciary.

By Tanner Sparrow As global carbon emissions continue to rise following the Paris Agreement and the earth continues to speed towards irreversible climate change, the Paris Agreement, despite its successes, faces repeated criticism.[1] Given that all nations’ current targets are not enough cumulatively to keep the climate from staying below the 2-degree Celsius threshold,[2] and

Looking for American Action on Climate Change after the Paris Agreement? Don’t Look to the United States’ Judiciary. Read More »

Sanctions and Counter-sanctions Between the West and China over Xinjiang

By Wesley Cong Cao On March 22, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over human rights issues in Xinjiang.[1] The “united transatlantic response,” according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was the first such coordinated Western action against Beijing under the new Biden administration.[2]

Sanctions and Counter-sanctions Between the West and China over Xinjiang Read More »

An Attempt at Effective EU Enforcement: Rule of Law Conditionality

By Jordan Ziehr The last decade has seen a number of European Union Member States experience significant democratic backsliding, which has presented a challenge to the EU’s commitment to uphold the rule of law. In Poland, attacks on the independence of the judiciary led to an EU attempt to enforce its requirements that Member States

An Attempt at Effective EU Enforcement: Rule of Law Conditionality Read More »

Bluetooth Instead of GPS Should Be Utilized to do Contact-tracing During the Covid-19 Pandemic

By Jinke Pu According to Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the right to privacy is one of the fundamental human rights which should not be ignored even in the era of Covid-19 pandemic.[1] Therefore, Bluetooth, a less intrusive technology, instead of GPS should be utilized to do contact-tracing.

Bluetooth Instead of GPS Should Be Utilized to do Contact-tracing During the Covid-19 Pandemic Read More »

The Power of Regulatory Takings Claims: A Note of Caution on the Pack the ISDS Tribunal Debate

By Danielle Hoffman In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries party to international investment agreements (IIAs) imposed reactive measures restricting the export of masks and other medical equipment.[1] As a result of these measures, masks and other medical equipment contractually arranged to be exported, were not.[2] Accordingly, disgruntled investors, who incurred losses from

The Power of Regulatory Takings Claims: A Note of Caution on the Pack the ISDS Tribunal Debate Read More »

The Biden Airstrike and the Need to Update the Legal Regime Governing Use of Force Against Non-State-Actors

By Jesse Calo On February 25, President Biden ordered an airstrike in Syria against Iranian-backed militias in response to their rocketing of U.S. targets in Baghdad and Erbil from ten days prior.[1] While President Biden asserted a constitutional basis for his authority to act, he also provided a basis for the strike under international law:

The Biden Airstrike and the Need to Update the Legal Regime Governing Use of Force Against Non-State-Actors Read More »

TikTok, WeChat, and IEEPA

By Jiaying Zhang On February 10th, 2021, the Biden Administration decided to halt two executive orders, which were signed by his predecessor, which banned social media platforms Tiktok and Wechat from the U.S. market.[1] This move will allow American users to continue their enjoyment of these communications applications, but it prevents the courts from further

TikTok, WeChat, and IEEPA Read More »