The Domestic Application of International Human Rights Law: Evolving the Species

Authors

Jeffrey Hadley Louden

Abstract

International human rights law may give rise to domestically enforceable rights. The Note traces the evolution of international human rights law, and examines the cases in which international human rights law has been applied as authority in United States courts. One obstacle to widespread domestic application of international law is a subjective approach to "self-executing treaty analysis" used by some courts. The Note urges a re-evaluation of the self-executing treaty analysis as applied to changing international human rights law, and suggests that treaties should be evaluated on the basis of the express treaty language, and not on the basis of subjective and arbitrary factors.

Recommended Citation

Jeffrey Hadley Louden, The Domestic Application of International Human Rights Law: Evolving the Species, 5 Hastings Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 161 (1981).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_international_comparative_law_review/vol5/iss1/6