Ronald Sokol
Encyclopedia
Ronald P. Sokol lawyer and writer, is a member of the bar in the United States
and France
. He and his wife live in Aix-en-Provence, France. He is the author of Federal Habeas Corpus and Justice after Darwin and op-ed contributor to the International Herald Tribune
and the Christian Science Monitor.
, Sokol attended Duke University
for three years, leaving without a degree to study law at the University of Virginia
where he was admitted in 1959. There he came under the influence of Hardy Cross Dillard, then dean of the law school and Daniel J. Meador, then James Monroe Professor and later Associate Attorney-General under President Carter, as well as Charles Horsky, a partner at Covington & Burling
in Washington, D.C.
who taught civil rights on weekends. Horsky and Meador regularly argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and were both practitioners and scholars of constitutional litigation. Dillard was then President of the American Society of International Law
and later became the American judge at the International Court of Justice
in the Hague
.
, but chose to stay on at Virginia to study under Meador and to pursue civil rights studies with Horsky and international law and legal philosophy with Dillard. In 1963 Sokol obtained an LLM degree finishing a thesis that was published as The Puzzle of Equality. While working with Meador Sokol began to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
as court-appointed counsel in habeas corpus
cases. Upon completing his degree the University invited him to join the faculty as Lecturer in Appellate Practice and Director of an Appellate Legal Aid program which Sokol initiated. For three years Sokol regularly appeared before the 4th Circuit which singled him out in its published opinions as outstandingly able counsel. United States v. Shoaf, 341 F.2d 832 (1964).
In 1965 Sokol drew on his experience to publish A Handbook of Federal Habeas Corpus, the first book on the subject since the 19th century. It was followed by a second edition in 1969.
where he began work on Justice after Darwin published in 1975. It was one of the first works to bring evolutionary theory to bear on legal problems and on justice in particular and displayed an early interdisciplinary approach to the study of law. In 1967 Sokol moved to Tokyo
to study Japanese where he met his wife. They communicated in Japanese until coming to France in December, 1968.
In 1970 Sokol and his wife moved to Aix-en-Provence
where they have lived since. In 1973 he was admitted to practice in France and set up his own firm. He continues to argue cases throughout France and to counsel individuals, estates, non-profit foundations, and corporations.
In addition to teaching at the University of Virginia, Sokol has lectured at the University of Aix-en-Provence, the Institute of American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, the Ecoles des Mines in Saint-Étienne
, the University of Buskerud in Norway
and Imperial College, London. He and his wife have four sons who live in London.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He and his wife live in Aix-en-Provence, France. He is the author of Federal Habeas Corpus and Justice after Darwin and op-ed contributor to the International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
and the Christian Science Monitor.
Early life and education
Born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Sokol attended Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
for three years, leaving without a degree to study law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he was admitted in 1959. There he came under the influence of Hardy Cross Dillard, then dean of the law school and Daniel J. Meador, then James Monroe Professor and later Associate Attorney-General under President Carter, as well as Charles Horsky, a partner at Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling
Covington & Burling LLP is an international law firm with offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Washington, DC. The firm advises multinational corporations on significant transactional, litigation, regulatory, and public policy matters...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
who taught civil rights on weekends. Horsky and Meador regularly argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and were both practitioners and scholars of constitutional litigation. Dillard was then President of the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
and later became the American judge at 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...
in the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
Career at Virginia
Sokol graduated from Virginia in 1962 and was admitted to practice in WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, but chose to stay on at Virginia to study under Meador and to pursue civil rights studies with Horsky and international law and legal philosophy with Dillard. In 1963 Sokol obtained an LLM degree finishing a thesis that was published as The Puzzle of Equality. While working with Meador Sokol began to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
as court-appointed counsel in habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
cases. Upon completing his degree the University invited him to join the faculty as Lecturer in Appellate Practice and Director of an Appellate Legal Aid program which Sokol initiated. For three years Sokol regularly appeared before the 4th Circuit which singled him out in its published opinions as outstandingly able counsel. United States v. Shoaf, 341 F.2d 832 (1964).
In 1965 Sokol drew on his experience to publish A Handbook of Federal Habeas Corpus, the first book on the subject since the 19th century. It was followed by a second edition in 1969.
Career in France
In 1966 Sokol resigned from the University and moved to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he began work on Justice after Darwin published in 1975. It was one of the first works to bring evolutionary theory to bear on legal problems and on justice in particular and displayed an early interdisciplinary approach to the study of law. In 1967 Sokol moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to study Japanese where he met his wife. They communicated in Japanese until coming to France in December, 1968.
In 1970 Sokol and his wife moved to Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
where they have lived since. In 1973 he was admitted to practice in France and set up his own firm. He continues to argue cases throughout France and to counsel individuals, estates, non-profit foundations, and corporations.
In addition to teaching at the University of Virginia, Sokol has lectured at the University of Aix-en-Provence, the Institute of American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, the Ecoles des Mines in Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
, the University of Buskerud in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Imperial College, London. He and his wife have four sons who live in London.