Through the Shadowlands . . . and back again

Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

Okay, I'm sure that's not how it's spelled, but for once (and probably the only time in my life), I don't care enough to look it up. Turning on the car to come home after a semi-long day at work, what should greet my ears but yet another rendition of our favorite carol of all, Little Drummer Boy.

But I refuse to let one song ruin my mood or take up any more space on this blog.

Il Divo's version of Ave Maria is currently playing on my computer. To be followed shortly by Josh Groban's Believe and O Holy Night. Thank you playlist!

I'm constantly amazed by how much there is to blog about, but when I sit down to right very little comes to mind. I can't talk about my work (even anonymously, I just wouldn't do that; and we're a bit past the anonymous point at this time). See generally the saga of A3G's colorful Underneath Their Robes blog, RIP; oh, and the law clerk that was fired after posting detailed analysis of cases his/her chambers was involved in. Beyond the professional ethics though, it's just not in my nature.

Same thing for my personal life. I don't mind sharing little tangential things, but don't expect to get to know the "real" me and the sordid (such as they are) details of my life being broadcast to anyone unfortunate enough to stumble upon my humble little slice of cyberspace.

I'm giving myself until January to begin writing again. Having published three articles (well, one student note and two articles) on various aspects of international criminal law, it's time to start the fourth. Suggestions, anyone? :-) As background, I believe that the "conservative" crowd (and "conservative Christians" in particular) have missed a well-spring of opportunity by so roundly fleeing the establishment of an international criminal court. That being said, I'm no globalist either, and all-too-aware of the dangers posed. I'm just more of a realist when it comes to certain things like genocide, mass torture and other crimes against humanity. The whole issue of aggression is another issue, though, to be sure.

So here's my initial thought for current research: Trying the Judged: International Criminal Proceedings Against Members of the Judiciary. The focal point would, of necessity, be the Nuremberg trial against the judges and lawyers (featured too fictionally in Judgment at Nuremberg, but with a great speech by Spencer Tracy at the end); then a historical look through the current IST proceeding in which defendant number 2 is the former chief justice of Saddam Hussein's Revolutionary Courts. And to answer two immediate questions: yes, I prefer legal history to modern legal analysis at times, and no, I haven't a clue what the thesis will be yet. I've talked it over with another internationally-minded friend from law school, and we may be able to co-write it. Think anyone besides loyal family and coerced friends would read it? :-)

Off to wrap Christmas presents . . . . (yes, that's how eclectic my mind can be at times - good thing I don't blog more often!)

posted by shadowlands7 @ 7:07:00 PM