Harold Hongju Koh

Sterling Professor of International Law and Former Dean, Yale Law School; Legal Adviser to U.S. Department of State (2009-13); Assistant Secretery of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (1998-2001). Recognized authority in areas of international law, international human rights, foreign affiars and national security law, and international business transactions and trade.  Various chairs and former Director of the Schell Center for International Human Rights, Yale Law School since 1985. A vocal champion of human rights for many years, he came to national prominence in 1993 arguing on behalf of Haitian refugees fleeing to the United States. Recipient of 15 honorary degrees, 30+ awards for work in human rights and international law and author or co-author of more than 200 articles and 8 books including The National Security Constitution: Sharing Power After the Iran-Contra Affair and Transnational Litigation in the United States.