To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg trials, the complete digitized records of these landmark legal proceedings are now available online. This comprehensive collection, housed by the Harvard Law School library, encompasses over 750,000 pages of trial transcripts, briefs, and evidence exhibits. The project, a 25-year endeavor, offers unprecedented access to every official document, allowing researchers to explore the Nazi leaders’ actions and the development of international human rights law. The digital format not only preserves the fragile documents but also provides enhanced search capabilities and a detailed view of the courtroom proceedings, including the evolution of the Holocaust.
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Europe’s backing of a tribunal to prosecute Vladimir Putin for crimes against Ukraine represents a significant step, but the path to justice remains fraught with challenges. The idea of immediate arrests of prominent members of Putin’s administration upon entry into signatory nations is crucial. Without this binding commitment and the subsequent pressure on neighboring countries to join, the tribunal risks becoming symbolic rather than effective. Simply waiting for Putin’s immunity to lapse seems naive; he’s unlikely to face consequences while clinging to power. The hope is that this isn’t just another promise that fades into irrelevance.
The Nuremberg Trials serve as a potent precedent.… Continue reading
Britain’s unwavering support for Nuremberg-style trials targeting Russian leadership for their role in the Ukraine invasion stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s opposition. This decision, to pursue accountability for the “crimes of aggression” committed during the invasion, highlights a significant rift in the international response to the conflict. The proposed military tribunal, mirroring the post-World War II trials of Nazi officials, aims to prosecute key Russian figures for initiating the war, not just for subsequent war crimes committed on Ukrainian soil.
This focus on the crime of aggression is crucial because the International Criminal Court (ICC), while capable of prosecuting other war crimes, lacks the jurisdiction to address this specific charge.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood