December 29, 2007

Law Professors to Access Accountability for Military Contractors

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A panel of legal experts will review various possible avenues of accountability over military contractors, as well as the implications of privatization in the foreign affairs arena. This program will occur on Saturday, January 5, from 1:30-3:15 p.m. during the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting -- a week-long conference in New York City drawing over 3,500 law faculty.


On September 16, 2007, security contractors in Iraq employed by Blackwater International opened fire on civilians, and media outlets immediately began reporting that the shootings may have been unprovoked. The firestorm of controversy surrounding the incident has raised increased awareness of the thousands of private military contractors employed in Iraq. Some estimate that there are now as many contractors employed by the U.S. government in Iraq as there are uniformed military personnel deployed there. In response to the Blackwater shooting incident, the Iraq government has sought to repeal the purported immunity given by the Coalition Provisional Authority to U.S. contractors in Iraq. Meanwhile, Congress is now pursuing legislation that would explicitly make contractors subject to U.S. law even when operating abroad. And Congressional hearings are in progress seeking increased oversight of contractors within the State Department and the Department of Defense. International law specialists and scholars of government contract law have also weighed in, proposing other initiatives that might make contractors more accountable for the abuses they may commit.


The panel will be moderated by Laura Dickinson (Connecticut) and features Martha L. Minow, (Harvard); Steven L. Schooner, (George Washington); and Paul R. Verkuil, (Yeshiva).


The entire AALS 2008 Annual Meeting program can be found on the Association's Web site at http://www.aals.org/am2008/. Members of the press are invited to attend free of charge. Those interested in attending are asked to notify Deborah Quick from January 2-6, 2007 at (202) 745-2116. Press also may register on-site at the AALS office located in the Gibson Suite on the Second Floor of the Hilton New York beginning Wednesday after 6:00 p.m. January 2, 2008, and continuing through Sunday, January 6, 2008.


Association of American Law Schools

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