Why Judge Sotomayor's Disclaimer Doesn't Mean What It Seems

Judge Sotomayor on Foreign and International Law, Contentions, July 16, 2009. "Yesterday, in response to a question from Sen. Coburn (R-OK) asking whether there is no authority for a Supreme Court justice to utilize foreign law in terms of making decisions based on the Constitution or statutes, Judge Sotomayor gave what appeared to be an unambiguous answer."

Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity

Happy Bastille Day!, Contentions, July 14, 2009. "There are two traditional ways to mark Bastille Day. First, parades. This year’s festivities were noteworthy for the inclusion of 400 Indian troops, to celebrate, as AFP put it, France’s “strategic relationship with the world’s biggest democracy.” Personally, I thought Clive of India pretty much put an end to Franco-Indian ties, but it turns out that AFP is referring to India’s appetite for France’s nuclear reactors and world-beating military technology (insert joke here). Why is it that European “strategic relationships” are mostly about money? The other way to celebrate is by burning cars and attacking the police."

Harold Koh on Feminist Justice

A ‘Distinctly “Feminist Procedure” ’, Contentions, June 23, 2009.