Secretary of State John Kerry has nominated Sean Murphy, Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professor of Law, to run for reelection to the U.N. International Law Commission (ILC) in November 2016. The nomination was formally conveyed to the United Nations by U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power.
Created by the United Nations in 1948, the ILC consists of 34 distinguished legal scholars, practitioners, and government officials elected by the U.N. General Assembly. Together, the members of the ILC initiate studies and make recommendations to encourage the development and codification of international law.
Secretary Kerry wrote a letter in support of the nomination that noted a few of Professor Murphy’s extensive credentials: a professorship at the law school since 1998, work as an attorney at the Department of State for 11 years, and authorship of leading casebooks on public international law and U.S. foreign relations law.
Secretary Kerry also highlighted Professor Murphy’s work during his current term on the ILC. Most notably, Professor Murphy proposed the addition of “Crimes against Humanity” to the Commission’s active agenda and was subsequently appointed as a special rapporteur on the topic. In that role, he has met with government officials and given lectures in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia to help explain the Commission’s work in that area.
“Professor Murphy has been an influential ambassador for the commission. His tireless efforts to describe the commission and its work, by speaking publicly and writing extensively about the commission's history and current topics, have raised the commission's profile in the United States,” Secretary Kerry wrote.
Professor Murphy delivered remarks about his nomination at an event held by the United States Mission to the United Nations, saying he feels it is a tremendous honor to serve on the Commission.
"Once again, I am extremely honored to be nominated by the U.S. Government to serve in this role,” he said later. “The Commission is a unique setting for advancing the rule of law in international affairs and it is important that an American perspective be at the table during its work."