US Says It Has Withdrawn from World Judicial Body

The US administration has angered many countries in its lack of deference to international institutions, particularly the United Nations. Most recently, a US State Department announcement essentially revoked International Court of Justice jurisdiction to review disputes within US courts. Washington's withdrawal from this optional protocol, part of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, has raised eyebrows, both internationally and domestically. "International adjudication is an important tool in a post-cold-war, post-9/11 world," remarked Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh. In a time of already tense transatlantic relations, concern emerges that such actions alienate the allies courted by Bush during his European tour. European leaders – who place a premium on cooperation and consensus-building – may not support US projects if Washington continues to dismiss global governing bodies. – YaleGlobal