Illustrating Persisting Problems in the Art Black Market
Mlada Simper Theft, forgery, and money laundering – the art market has a surprising dark side. Debate rages on about how prevalent or profitable the underground art market truly is, but the Organized Crime Group of the UK Metropolitan Police and Interpol estimate that the art black market generates at
Mercenaries. What Is the Law and Is It Followed?
Alec Casey The presence of mercenaries in modern conflicts has garnered media attention. From Blackwater in Iraq to the Wagner Group in Ukraine, mercenaries have become a ubiquitous presence in 21st century conflicts.[1] This raises important questions—What does international law have to say about mercenaries? Have state actors and other
Whitewashing the Past: The Modern Legacy of the Theory Behind Buck v. Bell
Noah Richardson In 1927, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, wrote the opinion in Buck v. Bell that upheld Virginia’s forced sterilization law.[1] The statute, one of several that had been passed in states across the country, was part of a larger movement aimed
The Wide Reach of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
Emily Seitz The European Union (“EU”) presented the European Green Deal in December of 2019.[1] The European Green Deal consists of various policy instruments that will be used with the goal of creating a more sustainable European economy in areas like energy, agriculture, and industry.[2] The hope for the European
El Salvador’s Mano Dura: Balancing Order and Rights in the Shadow of Gang Violence
Laura Reyes, University of Minnesota Law Volume 34 Editor-in-Chief “We can arrest anyone we want,” a Salvadoran law enforcement officer remarked to a mother after detaining her son.[1] As of February 2024, more than 76,000 people—nearly two percent of the Salvadoran population—have been detained, imprisoned under inhumane conditions,[2] and are
Tracking International Tax Avoiders, Brooke Meister
Tracking International Tax Avoiders, Brooke Meister Tax season is coming up for US based taxpayers and while the subject of tax is often the pinnacle of boredom for many, it is of vital importance to nearly every important topic that individuals and governments of all levels interact with. While tax
Russia-Ukraine Conflict: International Legal Enforcement Takes a Sideline Seat to Economic Prowess, Chaisson Bowen
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which escalated with Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the recent invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has raised significant questions about the effectiveness and enforceability of international law. This blog post will examine the legal issues surrounding the conflict and their implications
International Adjudication vs. Judicial Remedies, Abirami Swaminath
International Adjudication vs. Judicial Remedies, Abirami Swaminath The foremost authority on international law is the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the various networks within the United Nations, including the treaties and charters that different nations have signed into, govern many fields of international law before the issue is
The Ethiopia-Somaliland Naval Base Deal is a Violation of International Law
The Ethiopia-Somaliland Naval Base Deal Is a Violation of International Law Aman Obsiye On January 1, 2024, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Somaliland – an unrecognized secessionist region within the Federal Republic of Somalia. The
U.N. Cybercrime Treaty a Potential Threat to Free Speech
Wendy Erickson The United Nations is in the process of negotiating a landmark global cybercrime treaty, which if adopted, will be the first binding U.N. instrument on cybercrime. The treaty has the backing of Russia, China and a number of other countries. Negotiations over the scope and content of the