Evan Wallach
Encyclopedia
Evan Jonathan Wallach is an American lawyer and judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
. A former judge of the United States Court of International Trade
, he is one of the nation's foremost experts on war crimes and the law of war.
, and received a Bachelor of Arts
at the University of Arizona
in 1973, followed by a Juris Doctor
at the University of California Berkeley in 1976. He received a Bachelor of Laws
with honors in International Law from University of Cambridge
in 1981. Wallach also served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps in the International Affairs Division of the Office of TJAG at The Pentagon
during the Gulf War
, where he assisted in advising on the law of war and investigating war crimes allegedly committed by Iraqi leaders. He has taken JAG Officer's Basic and Advanced Courses.
, with the rank of major
. His responsibilities included giving annual lectures to Military Police
regarding their legal obligations on treatment of prisoners. During the Gulf War he served at the Pentagon in the International Affairs Division of the Office of The Judge Advocate of the Army, where he assisted in advising on the law of war and investigating war crimes allegedly committed by Iraqi leaders.
Since 1997 he has been adjunct professor in Law of War at both New York Law School
and Brooklyn Law School
. Since 2001 he has been a visiting professor in Law of War at the University of Münster
.
Wallach is a member of the International Law of War Association, which is a "loose confederation of military lawyers, academics, and government officials including members of the judiciary, who are interested in the advancement of a legal regime to ameliorate suffering and for the regulation of the use of armed force in armed conflicts".
to the United States Court of International Trade
. President Obama nominated him on July 28, 2011 to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
. His nomination was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 6, 2011, by voice vote. On November 8, 2011, his nomination was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 99 ayes to 0 nays. He received his commission on November 18, 2011.
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
. A former judge of the United States Court of International Trade
United States Court of International Trade
The United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
, he is one of the nation's foremost experts on war crimes and the law of war.
Early life, education, and career
Wallach was decorated for his service during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, and received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in 1973, followed by a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at the University of California Berkeley in 1976. He received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
with honors in International Law from University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1981. Wallach also served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps in the International Affairs Division of the Office of TJAG at The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
during the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, where he assisted in advising on the law of war and investigating war crimes allegedly committed by Iraqi leaders. He has taken JAG Officer's Basic and Advanced Courses.
Law of war
As an adjunct law professor Wallach specialises in the law of war. From 1989 - 1995 he served as Judge Advocate General in the Nevada Army National GuardNevada Army National Guard
The Nevada National Guard is one of the 54 members of the United States National Guard, part of the United States reserve forces.-Organization:...
, with the rank of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
. His responsibilities included giving annual lectures to Military Police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
regarding their legal obligations on treatment of prisoners. During the Gulf War he served at the Pentagon in the International Affairs Division of the Office of The Judge Advocate of the Army, where he assisted in advising on the law of war and investigating war crimes allegedly committed by Iraqi leaders.
Since 1997 he has been adjunct professor in Law of War at both New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
and Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
. Since 2001 he has been a visiting professor in Law of War at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
.
Wallach is a member of the International Law of War Association, which is a "loose confederation of military lawyers, academics, and government officials including members of the judiciary, who are interested in the advancement of a legal regime to ameliorate suffering and for the regulation of the use of armed force in armed conflicts".
Judicial service
In 1997, Wallach was appointed by President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to the United States Court of International Trade
United States Court of International Trade
The United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine sitting Judges, as well as Senior Judges...
. President Obama nominated him on July 28, 2011 to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
. His nomination was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 6, 2011, by voice vote. On November 8, 2011, his nomination was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 99 ayes to 0 nays. He received his commission on November 18, 2011.
Publications
Wallach has had articles published both in mainstream media and legal journals, and has been widely cited in the media. Some of these include:- Outline of the law of war.
- Waterboarding Used to Be a Crime.
- Afghanistan, Quirin, and Uchiyama: Does the Sauce Suit the Gander?
- The Logical Nexus Between The Decision To Deny Application of The Third Geneva Convention To The Taliban and al Qaeda, and the Mistreatment of Prisoners in Abu Ghraib.
- The Procedural and Evidentiary Rules of the Post World War II War Crimes Trials: Did They Provide an Outline for International Legal Procedure?
- Drop by Drop: Forgetting the History of Water Torture in U.S. Courts.