The Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law

McDougal Lecture

Myres S. McDougal Distinguished Lecture in International Law

Established in 1976, the Myres S. McDougal Distinguished Lecture in International Law features eminent jurists and scholars addressing various aspects of international law and policy. Myres S. McDougal was one of the most influential scholars in the history of international law, and Professor Ved Nanda’s mentor at Yale Law School.

The lecture that bears the McDougal name attracts academics, statesmen and others who are lauded as the best in their respective fields of expertise. Presentation of the McDougal Lecture, as well as other addresses by visiting scholars and guests, is accompanied by opportunities for the students to meet and converse with the speakers.


Professor Michael Scharf, Dean, Case Western Reserve Law School

Wednesday, 10/9 | 5PM – 7PM | LAW 165 & Forum
THE SYRIA CONFLICT’S IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL LAW
Free; 1 general CLE credit ($20)                    

The Nanda Center recognized Professor Michael Scharf as the 2019-2020 Myres S. McDougal Distinguished Lecturer in Human Rights for his extraordinary ongoing contributions and leadership in the advancement of international law and policy.

Scharf discussed that the international law of self-defense and of humanitarian intervention have been fundamentally altered by events in Syria. He contended that the abuse of the veto during the Syria crisis has led to the greatest shift in power—from the UN Security Council to the UN General Assemblysince the 1970 Uniting for Peace resolution.

Michael Scharf is co-Dean of the Case Western Reserve Law School, Joseph C. Hostetler – Baker/Hostetler Professor of Law, and Managing Director of the Public International Law and Policy Group, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated NGO. His areas of expertise include International Law, International Criminal Law, International Human Rights Law, Law of International Organizations, and National Security Law. He served as Attorney-Adviser for UN Affairs at the US Department of State. He has been the host and producer of “Talking Foreign Policy,” a radio program broadcast on WCPN 90.3 FM and other NPR affiliate stations across the country. He is the author of over 100 scholarly articles and 19 books, three of which have won national book of the year honors. His newest book, The Syria Conflict’s Impact on International Law, is forthcoming (University of Cambridge Press, 2019).


Past Recipients

2019 Michael Scharf, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
2018 Ruth Wedgwood, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
2017 Jordan Paust, University of Houston Law Center
2016 Tom Farer, University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies
2015 Lakshman D. Guruswamy, University of Colorado Law School
2014 Petros Mavroidis, Columbia Law School and the European University Institute
2013 Ruth Wedgwood, Johns Hopkins University
2011 Gary Hart, Former U.S. Senator to Colorado
2010 Dinah L. Shelton, The George Washington University Law School
2009 José Alvarez, Columbia Law School
2008 Richard Falk, Princeton University
2007 Larry Johnson, Ass’t Secretary General for Legal Affairs, United Nations
2006 Ved Nanda, University of Denver
2003 Nigel S. Rodley, University of Essex
2002 James A.R. Nafziger, Willamette University
2001 David A. Gantz, University of Arizona
2000 Jon M. Van Dyke, University of Hawaii
1999 Stephen C. McCaffrey, McGeorge School of Law
1998 M. Cherif Bassiouni, DePaul University
1994 Christopher Weeramantry, International Court of Justice, The Hague
1993 Oscar Schachter, Columbia University
1992 Robert Muller, United Nations University for Peace, Costa Rica
1991 Louis B. Sohn, University of Georgia
1990 Leonard v.B. Sutton, Former Chief Justice Colorado Supreme Court
1989 Richard B. Bilder, University of Wisconsin
1988 Leslie C. Green, University of Alberta
1987 William M. Beaney, University of Denver
1986 Richard Falk, Princeton University
1985 Thomas Franck, New York University
1984 Seymour Rubin, American Society of International Law
1983 1983 Burns H. Weston, University of Iowa
1982 W. Michael Reisman , Yale University
1981 John Norton Moore, University of Virginia
1980 Gustavo Lagos, Universidad de Chile
1978 Clarence Clyde Ferguson, Harvard University
1977 John M. Hazard, Columbia University
1976 Josef Korbel, University of Denver
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