INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW (3)(CRI300)

Professor Eugene Cerruti
The rapidly unfolding global campaign to punish and deter violations of the most fundamental human rights – and to bring to an end the long-standing impunity enjoyed by the most egregious violators of such rights – has led to the emergence of the new field of international criminal law. This field includes ground-breaking developments in both substantive and procedural criminal law. This course will examine the substantive crimes and theories of culpability that are now at the core of international criminal law. It will also review the major and diverse developments that represent the unique procedural developments required to facilitate prosecution of these international crimes. The course will begin with a brief introduction to the pertinent aspects of traditional international law and terminology which underscore these new developments. It will then review the modern expansion, both domestically and internationally, of the jurisdiction to prosecute such crimes. The crimes covered will include war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, torture and terrorism – as well as some of the major defenses to these crimes. International jurisdiction and procedural law will be covered by examination of the diverse means of prosecution now available: domestic courts, military tribunals, war crime tribunals and the new International Criminal Court. Guest speakers will be invited to share their experiences and perspective on this new field. There will be a final exam.