Humanizing the Laws of War: Selected Writings of Richard Baxter

This book celebrates the scholarship of Richard Baxter, former Judge of the International Court of Justice and former Professor of International Law at Harvard Law School. The volume brings together Professor Baxter's writings on the laws of war, on which he was one of the most influential scholars of the twentieth century. The collection of essays contained in this book once again makes his exceptional writings available to scholars and students in the field. His work remains timely and relevant to today's issues, and offers many analyses which have been borne out in subsequent years. It includes, amongst many wide-ranging topics within the laws of war, Baxter's studies of the Geneva Conventions, human rights in times of war, and the legal problems of international military command.

Featuring a new introduction by Professor Detlev Vagts exploring the importance of Baxter's writings, and a Bibliographical Note by Judge Stephen Schwebel assessing Baxter's life, this book is essential reading for scholars and students of international humanitarian law.

Richard Baxter was Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and a Judge of the International Court of Justice. At various times, Judge Baxter served as consultant to the Department of State, Department of Defense, the Human Rights Division and the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Law from 1970 to 1978, and prior to that he was for many years on its Board of Editors. He served as the President of the American Society of International Law from 1974 to 1976 and remained an honorary Vice-President of the Society until his death. During the year 1971-1972, Judge Baxter was Counselor on International Law, at the Office of the Legal Adviser, Department of State. He was a member of the United States Delegations to the First and Second Conferences of Government Experts on International Humanitarian Law. He died in 1980.

Detlev Vagts is Emeritus Bemis Professor of International Law at Harvard Law School. His primary area of focus is international law, particularly international business transactions, developing countries and transnational investment, international corporate law, comparative law, military conflicts between countries, and trans-border issues. He worked for the U.S. Department of State from 1976 to 1977. He served as Editor-in-Chief (with Theodor Meron) of the American Journal of International Law from 1993 to 1998.

Since his election to the Tribunal by the U.N. General Assembly in March 2001, Judge Meron has served on the Appeals Chamber, which hears appeals from both the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Between March 2003 and November 2005 he served as President of the Tribunal, and was re-elected to this position in October 2011. A leading scholar of international humanitarian law, human rights, and international criminal law, Judge Meron wrote some of the books and articles that helped build the legal foundations for international criminal tribunals. A Shakespeare enthusiast, he has also written articles and books on the laws of war and chivalry in Shakespeare's historical plays.

Judge Stephen Schwebel was a Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1981-2000, serving as President of the Court from 1997-2000. He is currently an independent arbitrator and counsel in Washington, DC, and a door tenant of Essex Court Chambers in London.

Charles Keever is a retired Colonel of the United States Marine Corps and a former student of Professor Baxter's.