Inaugural Distinguished Global Law Visitor

The Law School’s first Distinguished Global Law Visitor, Professor Michael P. Scharf, was on campus on Monday, September 19. Professor Scharf had the opportunity to interact with both the Law School campus community and the Portland legal community over the course of the day.

The International Law Society hosted a lunch-hour forum where Professor Scharf discussed with more than 45 students the topic, “Is Terrorism Worth Defining?”

That evening, Professor Scharf presented the inaugural Global Law Distinguished lecture, “Does the President have to follow international law during times of crisis?” Professor Scharf spoke to an audience of faculty, attorneys and students about the role of the State Department Legal Advisor. In a bravura performance, he concluded that the legal advice proffered to the administration was generally followed – and, in the few instances when it was not, the consequences were invariably bad for the United States.

The Global Law Program’s lecture series is intended to bring leading experts from across the nation to the Law School campus to discuss cutting-edge issues. Based on attendance and word-of-mouth, we can be sure this goal was accomplished; and Professor Scharf assured us himself that he “left with wonderful impressions of Portland and Lewis & Clark Law School.” As such, we consider this inaugural visit a huge success.

Professor Scharf is the John Deaver Drinko-Baker & Hostetler Professor of Law and Director of the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. During the first Bush and Clinton Administrations, he served in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the Department of State. An internationally recognized expert in international criminal law, he is the author of over 70 scholarly articles and 13 books industry.