Experts will Analyze Reargument of Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum in Day-After Panel
Speakers to Include Lead Counsel for the Plaintiff and Former Legal Advisor to the U.S. Department of State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 25 - American University Washington College of Law will hold a timely discussion and debate of Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at noon—a day after the rare rehearing of the case.
Featured speakers representing both sides of the debate and case will assess the previous day’s arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court while providing insight about the Court’s impending decision. Among the panelists are the lead counsel for the petitioners in the case and a former legal advisor to the U.S. Department of State who, in his capacity as a partner in a law firm, wrote an amicus brief in support of the respondents.
The Kiobel case now seems to threaten the future of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), which has been used to hold human rights violators accountable in U.S. courts for wrongs committed around the world. The Court ordered new oral arguments in the case less than a week after the original arguments to explore a third question: “Whether and under what circumstances the Alien Tort Statute allows courts to recognize a cause of action for violations of the law of nations occurring within the territory of a sovereign other than the United States.”
Panelists:
- Paul Hoffman, lead counsel for the plaintiffs who will be arguing the case the day before
- Katie Redford, co-founder and U.S. office director, EarthRights International
- John B. Bellinger, III, partner, Arnold & Porter; former legal advisor, U.S. Department of State
- Andrew Grossman, litigator, BakerHostetler; legal fellow, The Heritage Foundation
Moderator:
- Steve Vladeck, professor and associate dean of scholarship, American University Washington College of Law
Media interested in covering this event should contact Megan Smith, public relations coordinator, 202-274-4276.
###
In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.