Several months ago I argued a case that centered on the finer points of forum non conveniens.
The issue comes-up regularly given the large number of international companies doing business here in Miami.
While my adversary and I had a firm grasp of the issues involved, the judge wanted to take some additional time to review the case law cited in our briefs before making a decision.
And that’s no surprise.
It can be difficult for a judge to keep up with all the nuances of international business litigation.
In the past year alone, there have been a number of major decisions that have reshaped forum non conveniens analysis.
I mention all this because the American Society for International Law recently released its Benchbook on International Law.
It’s a great resource for judges to quickly get up to speed on the fast-changing international law landscape.
While the benchbook was designed for district and state court judges, it’s also an excellent resource for:
Magistrate Judges who may handle discovery and similar matters in the first instance; federal appellate judges who review the work of the district courts; state court judges whose docket includes disputes for which there is concurrent federal-state jurisdiction; administrative law judges; law clerks, legal assistants, and staff attorneys who serve the judiciary; and litigants who seek clearly and accurately to present to judges pertinent issues of international law.
The international law benchbook is a great reference tool for anyone looking to keep up with international law issues in the United States.
You can view or download a copy below: