Harold Hongju Koh

Harold Hongju Koh is a renowned American lawyer, academic, and diplomat who has served in various high-profile positions, including as the Legal Adviser of the Department of State under Barack Obama. He is a prominent figure in the field of International Law, with a strong background in Human Rights Law and Constitutional Law. Koh has worked closely with notable figures such as Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Samantha Power, and has been involved in various international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. His work has also been influenced by scholars like Louis Henkin and Myres McDougal.

● Early Life and Education

Harold Hongju Koh was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Korean immigrant parents, and grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975, and later received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1980. During his time at Harvard, Koh was heavily influenced by professors such as Duncan Kennedy and Frank Michelman, and was involved in various extracurricular activities, including the Harvard Law Review. He also spent time at Oxford University, where he studied under the guidance of Ian Brownlie and Joseph Raz.

● Career

Koh began his career as a law clerk for Judge Harry Blackmun of the Supreme Court of the United States, and later worked as a Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice under Attorney General Edward Levi. He has also held various academic positions, including as a professor at Yale Law School and as the Dean of Yale Law School from 2004 to 2009. During his tenure as dean, Koh worked closely with faculty members such as Akhil Amar and Bruce Ackerman, and played a key role in shaping the school's curriculum and research initiatives. He has also been involved in various professional organizations, including the American Law Institute and the International Law Association.

● Legal Scholarship

Koh is a prolific scholar who has written extensively on topics such as International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, and Transnational Law. His work has been published in various leading law journals, including the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, and Columbia Law Review. He has also written several books, including "The National Security Constitution: Sharing Power after the Iran-Contra Affair", which explores the relationship between National Security and Constitutional Law. Koh's scholarship has been influenced by the work of scholars such as Hans Kelsen and Philip Allott, and has been cited by courts such as the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

● Government Service

Koh has served in various high-profile government positions, including as the Legal Adviser of the Department of State from 2009 to 2013, where he worked closely with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry. He has also served as a member of the National Security Council and as a Special Assistant to the President under Bill Clinton. Koh's government service has also involved working with international organizations, such as the United Nations Security Council and the G8. He has worked closely with diplomats such as Richard Holbrooke and Dennis Ross, and has been involved in various international negotiations, including the Dayton Peace Accords and the Ottawa Treaty.

● Awards and Honors

Koh has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the field of international law, including the American Society of International Law's Manley O. Hudson Medal and the New York City Bar Association's International Law Award. He has also been awarded honorary degrees from institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, and University of California, Berkeley. Koh has been recognized for his work by organizations such as the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association, and has been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.

● Controversies

Koh has been involved in several controversies throughout his career, including criticism for his role in the Obama administration's Drone Strikes program and his views on Targeted Killings. He has also faced criticism for his handling of the Guantanamo Bay detention center and his position on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques. Koh has responded to these criticisms through various public statements and writings, including a speech at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law and an article in the Harvard Law Review. Despite these controversies, Koh remains a respected figure in the field of international law, and continues to be involved in various initiatives and organizations, including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Council on Foreign Relations.