Chicago-Kent College of Law Viewbook - (Page 26) On Making a Difference Professor Henry H. Perritt, Jr., and Chad Mair Professor Hank Perritt directs Operation Kosovo and oversees rule of law externships at Chicago-Kent. He is about to publish a book about the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)—his 16th book and one of several collaborations with third-year student Chad Mair. Chad spent his spring break at The Hague, assisting the team defending a former KLA commander before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In important respects, the law of armed conflict is obsolete. It was developed for conventional armies, not insurgencies. In Kosovo, guerrilla insurgents—with help from NATO—prevailed. These people, like everyone, deserve a fair trial. Chad: I was worried about defending a “war criminal.” Once I got there, I saw support for the claim that the trial was politically motivated. From the American legal perspective, some of the procedures were rather troubling. At times it was a free-for-all. Prof. Perritt: Over two years, Chad and I have come up with a variety of ideas about how war crimes law needs to be reformed. This case provides an opportunity to turn them into law. It’s one of only two where the ICTY is applying the law to a guerrilla insurgency fighting for independence. The lawyer Chad worked for is enthusiastic about our theories and believes they can be brought to bear on this case. I’ve learned a lot with Chad’s help. I’m immensely proud of him. Chad: No way did I ever expect to work this closely with a professor—let alone work at The Hague. The experience has been amazing. Prof. Perritt: On Professor Perritt: www.kentlaw.edu/faculty/hperritt On Operation Kosovo: operationkosovo.kentlaw.edu/about.html http://www.kentlaw.edu/faculty/hperritt http://operationkosovo.kentlaw.edu/about.html
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