University of Chicago law professor emeritus Albert W. Alschuler examines whether President Donald Trump could face legal consequences—either domestically or internationally—for ordering the U.S. military to kill at least 64 suspected drug traffickers on the high seas without trial, purportedly as part of a broader anti-cartel strategy. Professor Alschuler argues that these killings constitute unlawful acts that violate U.S. and international law, likening them to extrajudicial executions, and concludes that while prosecution is theoretically possible, political and legal obstacles, including questionable legal justifications and potential presidential immunity, make accountability unlikely.

NYU Law professor Samuel Estreicher and 2L Matthew Fouracre exploree the legal and jurisdictional complexities surrounding the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, focusing on the challenges against the ICC’s jurisdiction and the implications of head of state immunity. Professor Estreicher and Mr. Fouracre argue that while the ICC’s jurisdiction is contested due to Palestine’s statehood status and international legal principles, the varying international responses underscore a broader debate on the enforceability of such warrants against high-ranking officials.

Illinois Law professor Lesley Wexler considers what options the International Criminal Court (ICC) has in light of harsh criticism by US National Security Advisor John Bolton, and what the ICC’s end game will be. Specifically, Wexler considers three possibilities and the likelihood of each.