Samantar v. Yousuf Before U.S. Supreme Court
May a court in the United States judge acts of torture committed abroad by a foreign government official? The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act affords foreign governments and their officials immunity. Does the Torture Victim Protection Act strip it and grant the courts subject-matter jurisdiction?
The issue is now before the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, DC. It heard arguments on March 3, 2010 in the matter Samantar v. Yousuf, docket number 08-1555. The ABA posted the briefs. The Washington Post published a report on the hearing and an editorial of March 6, 2010. -- Clemens Kochinke, partner, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe, LLP, Washington, DC.
Sat, / Embassy Law Link