Justice O’Connor Notes Importance of International Law

During a recent speech at Georgetown Law School, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor empha­sized the grow­ing impor­tance of inter­na­tion­al law in U.S. courts, say­ing judges would be neg­li­gent if they dis­re­gard­ed its impor­tance in a post-September 11^th world of height­ened ten­sions. O’Connor said the Supreme Court is tak­ing cas­es that demand a bet­ter under­stand­ing of for­eign legal sys­tems, not­ing, ​“International law is no longer a spe­cial­ty. … It is vital if judges are to faith­ful­ly dis­charge their duties. Since September 11, 2001, we’re remind­ed some nations don’t have the rule of law or (know) that it’s the key to lib­er­ty.” She stat­ed that inter­na­tion­al law is ​“a help in our search for a more peace­ful world.” (Associated Press, October 27, 2004) See Supreme Court and International Death Penalty.