Ambassador Speaks on International Justice in Cambodia

January 2014

David Scheffer, the former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues and current U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Expert on U.N. Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials, was Lewis & Clark’s 2014 Global Law Distinguished Visitor. Scheffer’s lecture, “Challenges of International Justice,” was open to students, faculty, staff, and guests of the law school.

“I found Ambassador Scheffer’s presentation on recent developments in international criminal law engaging because he was ‘testing’ new theories that he has seen at work in his role with the ECCC (Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia). He was open in identifying both the arguments in support of the propositions, as well as their shortcomings,” said Brandon Hawkins ’15.

Scheffer’s lecture covered the Cambodia tribunal, the national court that tries the Khmer Rouge for violations of international law, and the efforts to make educational use of the trials. He also discussed how the proceedings are open to the public.

Scheffer finished by answering several questions from the audience before attending the reception that followed the event.

“He captured my attention and piqued my growing interest in the international criminal law system,” said Hawkins.