Mary Ellen O'Connell
Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law
Office: 3104 Eck Hall of Law
Phone: 574-631-7953
Email: MaryEllenOConnell@nd.edu
Areas of Expertise
International law, international legal regulation of the use of force, conflict and dispute resolution
A vice president of the American Society of International Law ─ the leading organization of its kind in the world ─ Mary Ellen O’Connell is a noted participant in debates on the law and morality of using military force. She chairs the International Law Association’s Committee on the Use of Force, which just completed a five-year study of the definition of armed conflict. She has testified before Congress and spoken to a wide variety of audiences about the international legal restraints on the use of force and the origins of those restraints in the Catholic Church’s Just War Doctrine. O’Connell has sought to raise public awareness of the new technology of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. “The C.I.A. uses drones to target enemy leaders on its ‘watch list,’” O’Connell stated in an article published in the March 15 issue of America magazine, “but the attacks inevitably kill many people who are not on the list, including innocent women and children.” A prolific scholar who also is doing pioneering work in the field of international legal theory, O’Connell is the author of “The Power and Purpose of International law,” an explication of the foundations of international law and an answer to those who deny its status as law.
VIDEOS
ND EXPERTS
U.S. is “most definitely” involved in hostilities in Libya
Standing by the rule of law in terrorism trials
Law School’s O’Connell comments on al- Marri charges
Law School’s O’Connell praises Bush decision not to assist attack on Iran
Law School’s O’Connell urges Guantanamo closing
Law School Professor O’Connell extols international law
Law School’s O’Connell assesses legality of Caucasus war
Law scholar supports World Court order to halt executions
Law professor Mary Ellen O’Connell ponders international responsibility in Darfur crisis
U.S. must not dilute prisoner treatment policies
ND NEWSWIRE ARTICLES
Law professor launches book on international law
Law School’s O’Connell testifies before Congress
IN THE NEWS
Al-Jazeera—Targeted killing and the ‘War on Terror’
Washington Post—Administration should do more to defend the Awlaki strike
NPR—Op-Ed: Legality And Wisdom Of Killing Al-Awlaki
PBS—Using Drones Outside Combat Zones
Reuters—Killing of American in Yemen raises legal questions
CNN—U.S. drone killing of American al-Awlaki prompts legal, moral debate
Huffington Post—Al-Awlaki Killing In Yemen Raises Constitutional Questions
Financial Times—CIA kills al-Qaeda cleric
New York Times—A Moral Flip-Flop? Defining a War
Al-Jazeera—The US love affair with drones
NPR—Popularity Of Drones Takes Off For Many Countries
WFAE 90.7 FM—Human Rights Defender Now Fights For U.S. Policy
Minnesota Public Radio—Human Rights Defender Now Fights For U.S. Policy
NPR—Human Rights Defender Now Fights For U.S. Policy
CNN—U.S. strains credibility on its Libya role
NPR—Debate: Did Obama Overstep His Authority In Libya?
Foreign Policy—The bin Laden aftermath: Abbottabad and international law
CNN—Drone warfare won’t win in Libya
Inside Higher Ed.—The Use of Armed Drones
Wall Street Journal— U.S. Works with Sudan on Gitmo
Legal Questions Raised Over CIA Drone Strikes
America Magazine: Flying Blind: U.S. combat drones operate outside international law
