Harold Koh

How to Lead Like a Lawyer

Tom Fox | Posted 04.07.2012

Tom Fox

"Give me your best. It's the least you can do. It's also the most you can do. What more can I ask for? It's also important for people to judge their own work. Forget about being given gold stars by others. Judge something by your own standards."

High Stakes for an Administration Battle: A National Security Nightmare

Daphne Eviatar | Posted 11.16.2011

Daphne Eviatar

As if we didn't have enough wars already, a battle is now reportedly taking place within the Obama administration over whether the U.S. government has the legal authority to kill low-level suspected terrorist supporters where the U.S. now has troops on the ground.

Senate Panel Votes To Give Obama Limited Authority To Continue Libya Mission

AP | DONNA CASSATA | Posted 08.28.2011

WASHINGTON — In a victory for President Barack Obama, a Senate panel voted Tuesday to approve U.S. participation in the military campaign agains...

Top Obama Lawyer Defends Legality Of Libya Operation

Posted 08.28.2011

WASHINGTON –- The State Department's top lawyer on Tuesday defended the legality of the U.S. military involvement in Libya as some lawmakers acc...

Libya and the War Powers Act: Reality Check for the Chief Exec

Rick Horowitz | Posted 08.21.2011

Rick Horowitz

[Deep inside a large white house, there is counseling...] "Do I have to lie down?" "Not at all, Mr. President! Not at all! Whatever is comfortable for you."

While Manning Languishes in Military Custody, U.N. Calls for Accountability for Torture

Jennifer Turner | Posted 05.25.2011

Jennifer Turner

The Obama administration must back up its promises with concrete steps to investigate all senior civilian and military government officials who authorized and facilitated torture.

Al-Awlaki Decision Leaves Key Questions Unanswered

Daphne Eviatar | Posted 05.25.2011

Daphne Eviatar

Under what circumstances is the U.S. government allowed to target for death an individual suspected of participating in terrorism in a foreign country where we are not actively engaged in a war?

Human Rights: Time to Practice What We Preach

Jamil Dakwar | Posted 05.25.2011

Jamil Dakwar

The commitments to "principled engagement" and "living our values" are especially vital to advancing human rights. For years, U.S. leadership on the world stage has suffered because the U.S. seems to hold a double standard.

Drones Use Smaller Bombs But Still Raise Big Concerns for Civilians

Chris Rogers | Posted 05.25.2011

Chris Rogers

Efforts to minimize civilian casualties by any warring party are welcome. But we must not make the mistake of thinking technology is a substitute for transparency and accountability.

The Cancer of Democracy

Amnesty International | Posted 05.25.2011

Amnesty International

Torture can't be wished away. You can't pretend it never happened. As General Patreaeus put it recently, the effects of torture are "nonbiodegradeable."

Experience Is the Life of the Law - and Right Now We Need Harold Koh's Experience

David Perez | Posted 05.25.2011

David Perez

Three of the best Supreme Court Justices of the 20th century were great, in part, because they brought non-judicial experiences and perspectives to the Court. This metric makes Harold Koh an ideal choice.

Why Harold Koh Should Be the Next Supreme Court Justice

Frank Chi | Posted 05.25.2011

Frank Chi

Many have ruled Harold Koh out of consideration because of his testy Senate confirmation last year to the State Department -- but that's exactly why he's most suited for this upcoming fight.

Caught in the Crosshairs: Legal Uncertainty over Drone Strikes Puts Civilians at Risk

Chris Rogers | Posted 05.25.2011

Chris Rogers

The question most consequential for civilians is who drones can kill. While civilian casualty figures attract media, little attention is paid to who counts as a "civilian" or non-combatant.

Are Drone Strikes Legal? Koh Offers Assurances, Not Answers

Chris Rogers | Posted 05.25.2011

Chris Rogers

Following years of official silence, State Department Legal Adviser Harold Koh's statements on the legality of drone strikes last week were welcomed by many. But Koh failed to address serious concerns over the U.S.'s use of drones to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

Drones and the Laws of War

Michael Thad Allen | Posted 05.25.2011

Michael Thad Allen

Drone attacks show that the technology of combat has changed dramatically, but the laws of war have remained remarkably stable.

State Department To Produce Legal Justification for Drone Attacks

Daphne Eviatar | Posted 05.25.2011

Daphne Eviatar

State Department Legal Adviser Harold Koh has promised to produce the Obama administration's legal justification for its increased use of drone strikes. Let's hope that moment comes soon.

Stevens' Clerks Believe He Will Retire Next Spring

Newsweek | Howard Fineman | Posted 05.25.2011

Less than two weeks ago, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens made news in a typically elliptical court way. He announced that he had hired only on...

Harold Koh Confirmed After Long GOP Delay

Foreign Policy | Posted 05.25.2011

Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh was confirmed as the State Department Legal Advisor in a roll call vote, 62-35. Koh was tapped for the job nearly...

Obama Nominee Moves Forward After GOP Hold Forces Dems To Take Anti-Filibuster Measure

The Washington Independant | Posted 05.25.2011

On Monday, nearly four months after President Obama nominated Harold Koh to become legal adviser to the State Department, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fil...

Harold Koh's Confirmation Blocked By Anonymous Hold

Talking Points Memo | Posted 05.25.2011

Add Harold Koh to the list of Obama nominees whom Republicans have decided to slow walk to confirmation. At least one senator is, anonymously, holding...

Pure Politics: The Koh Nomination Fight Drags On

Jay Michaelson | Posted 05.25.2011

Jay Michaelson

The Republicans are starving for a victory -- any victory -- and if they can block Harold Koh, then, hey, at least that's something. But it's always been a bit more than that.

Harold Koh: Supreme Court Nominee? All You Need To Know

The Huffington Post | Megan Slack | Posted 05.25.2011

Harold Koh, current dean of the Yale Law School, is one the top prospects for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee once Justice David Souter retire...

Jason Linkins

Mark Halperin On Souter Replacement: "White Men Need Not Apply"

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 05.25.2011

With the announcement that Justice David Souter is planning on retiring from the Supreme Court to return to New Hampshire, President Barack Obama now ...

Sam Stein

Souter Replacements: Obama's Five Likely Picks (SLIDESHOW)

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 05.25.2011

News of Justice David Souter's plan to retire at the end of the Supreme Court's current term immediately set off one of Washington D.C.'s most cherish...

Bipartisan Support Continues to Grow for Johnsen and Koh

Nan Aron | Posted 05.25.2011

Nan Aron

This weekend two prominent conservatives added their voices to the calls to confirm Dawn Johnsen and Harold Koh. Douglas Kmiec and Kenneth Starr have...