David Scheffer

Mayer Brown/Robert A. Helman Professor of Law
Director, Center for International Human Rights

Phone: (312) 503-2224
E-mail: d-scheffer@law.northwestern.edu

Related Links: Center for International Human Rights | LLM (International Human Rights Concentration)

David Scheffer holds an endowed professorship and serves as the Director of the Center for International Human Rights. He teaches International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law. He was previously the U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues (1997-2001) and led the U.S. delegation in U.N. talks establishing the International Criminal Court.

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During his ambassadorship, Scheffer negotiated and coordinated U.S. support for the establishment and operation of international and hybrid criminal tribunals and U.S. responses to atrocities anywhere in the world. He also headed the Atrocities Prevention Inter-Agency Working Group. During the first term of the Clinton Administration, Scheffer served as senior adviser and counsel to the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Madeleine Albright, and served from 1993 through 1996 on the Deputies Committee of the National Security Council.

Scheffer recently held visiting professorships at Northwestern Law, Georgetown University Law Center, and George Washington University Law School and taught earlier at Duke University School of Law and Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. He has published extensively on international legal and political issues and appears regularly in the national and international media. He is a CNN Legal Analyst.

Scheffer is a member of the New York and District of Columbia Bars, the American Society of International Law (formerly serving on the Executive Council), and the Council on Foreign Relations, and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Law Students Association.

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AREAS OF EXPERTISE

International Human Rights Law
International Criminal Law/Law of War
Public International Law

International Institutions Law
Clinical Teaching

COURSES

PUBLICATIONS

Recent Publications

Nuremburg TNuremburg Trials , Proceedings of the First International Humanitarian Law Dialogs , 2008
Let Games Go On, Without Fans: A Spectator Boycott Could Send China a Message , CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2008
A Review of the Experiences of the Pre-Trial and Appeals Chambers of the International Criminal Court Regarding the Disclosure of Evidence, LEIDEN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW , 2008
International Criminal Court: Introductory Note to Decision on the Prosecution Application under Article 58(7) of the Statute In the Case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Muhammad Harun (“Ahmad Harun”) and Ali Muhammad Al Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”) ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I , INTERNATIONAL LEGAL MATERIALS, 2007
Introductory Note To Military Commissions Act of 2006, INTERNATIONAL LEGAL MATERIALS , 2007

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EDUCATION

AB, Harvard University
BA (Honour School of Jurisprudence), Oxford University
LLM, Georgetown University

PRIOR APPOINTMENTS

Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
Senior Vice President, U.N. Association of the U.S.A.
Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Senior Consultant, Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives
International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Associate, Coudert Brothers