Louis B. Sohn
Encyclopedia
Louis B. Sohn was born in Lemberg
, in what was then Austria-Hungary, later Poland and now Ukraine. He earned his first law degree at John Casimir University in Lwow in 1939, escaping to the United States two weeks before the Nazi invasion of Poland. He was a longtime scholar of international law
and advocate of international institutions.
As a protege of Manley O. Hudson, he participated in the San Francisco Conference that established the United Nations
, working on the statute of the International Court of Justice
. Sohn earned his LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees from Harvard Law School
. He was appointed an assistant professor there in 1951, succeeding Hudson to the Bemis Chair in 1961. Upon mandatory retirement from Harvard, Sohn followed his friend Dean Rusk
to the University of Georgia School of Law
, where he held the Woodruff Chair in International Law until 1991.
Sohn served as counselor to the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State in 1970 and 1971. He was the U.S. delegate to the Law of the Sea Convention from 1974 to 1982.
In 1958, Professor Sohn was a co-author, with Grenville Clark
, of World Peace Through World Law
(Harvard University Press), which examined proposals to transform the United Nations into a world government. The book called for complete disarmament and the use of world judicial tribunals to solve international disputes. The plan also proposed a permanent world police force to enforce a prohibition on the use of force by states
.
Upon Sohn's death in 2006, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
issued a statement noting Sohn's reputation as "a voice of reason and source of wisdom," and celebrating his "firm belie[f] in the importance of the United Nations and of the rule of law in settling international disputes."
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, in what was then Austria-Hungary, later Poland and now Ukraine. He earned his first law degree at John Casimir University in Lwow in 1939, escaping to the United States two weeks before the Nazi invasion of Poland. He was a longtime scholar of international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and advocate of international institutions.
As a protege of Manley O. Hudson, he participated in the San Francisco Conference that established the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, working on the statute of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
. Sohn earned his LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He was appointed an assistant professor there in 1951, succeeding Hudson to the Bemis Chair in 1961. Upon mandatory retirement from Harvard, Sohn followed his friend Dean Rusk
Dean Rusk
David Dean Rusk was the United States Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Rusk is the second-longest serving U.S...
to the University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
, where he held the Woodruff Chair in International Law until 1991.
Sohn served as counselor to the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State in 1970 and 1971. He was the U.S. delegate to the Law of the Sea Convention from 1974 to 1982.
In 1958, Professor Sohn was a co-author, with Grenville Clark
Grenville Clark
Grenville Clark was the writer of the book World Peace Through World Law...
, of World Peace Through World Law
World Peace Through World Law
World Peace Through World Law, first published in 1958, was a book by Louis B. Sohn and Grenville Clark proposing a Revised United Nations Charter...
(Harvard University Press), which examined proposals to transform the United Nations into a world government. The book called for complete disarmament and the use of world judicial tribunals to solve international disputes. The plan also proposed a permanent world police force to enforce a prohibition on the use of force by states
Use of force by states
The use of force by states is controlled by both customary international law and by treaty law. The UN Charter reads in article 2:All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or...
.
Upon Sohn's death in 2006, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
issued a statement noting Sohn's reputation as "a voice of reason and source of wisdom," and celebrating his "firm belie[f] in the importance of the United Nations and of the rule of law in settling international disputes."