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Ali V. Rumsfeld: Challenging the President's Authority to Interpret Customary International Law

Julian Ku
Hofstra University - School of Law



Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, Vol. 38, p. 371, 2006
Hofstra Univ. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 06-2

Abstract:     
Can a federal court override the executive branch's interpretation of customary international law? Ali v. Rumsfeld, the landmark lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Human Rights First against Donald Rumsfeld, squarely presents this important question, which has never been resolved by any court. In this symposium essay, I argue that a judicial determination of Rumsfeld's liability may require a federal court to override the executive branch's interpretation of CIL. Because the executive branch holds the primary responsibility for the interpretation of CIL on behalf of the United States, a judicial determination of Rumsfeld's liability could undermine the Constitution's allocation of foreign affairs powers to the President.

Keywords: constitutional law, international law

JEL Classifications: K30, K33

Accepted Paper Series

Date posted: January 30, 2006 ; Last revised: February 06, 2007

Suggested Citation

Ku, Julian G., Ali V. Rumsfeld: Challenging the President's Authority to Interpret Customary International Law. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, Vol. 38, p. 371, 2006; Hofstra Univ. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 06-2. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=879238


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Julian G. Ku (Contact Author)
Hofstra University - School of Law ( email )
121 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
United States
516-463-4237 (Phone)
516-463-6264 (Fax)

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