Yale Daily News

Updated: Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:35 p.m.

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Koh faces scrutiny from Senate Republicans

Staff Reporter
Published Tuesday, April 28, 2009

WASHINGTON — Yale Law School Dean Harold Hongju Koh entered the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conference room this afternoon with a huge smile across his face. Whether he left the room feeling the same way is another matter entirely.

The Foreign Relations Committee met Tuesday to discuss Koh’s nomination as legal adviser to the Department of State. While praise for Koh’s academic career and prior public service came from both sides of the aisle, Republican senators grilled Koh on how he would reconcile international statutes with American law, a reflection of the intense...

#1 By Recent Alum 12:21a.m. on April 29, 2009

An interesting link for those who want to read about Koh advocating and engaging in illegal activities:

http://24ahead.com/illegal-immigration-supporting-harold-koh-legal-adviser-stat

#2 By Old Fashioned Liberal 5:12a.m. on April 29, 2009

After Specter's defection, Senate republicans seem like a fly on one's shoulder. It is goo to know that someone has the courage to be on the radical side of Liberal. With Ted kennedy waning we need all the examples we can find.

#3 By T.R 12:53p.m. on April 29, 2009

How can uphold the constitution when he doesn't really want to defend it since it lives and breaths therefore you need to feed it and dress it up to his likeing. Yes I believe he will add international and islamic law into his judgements. And I'm sure there will be some national emergency that will get him in without real hearings.

#4 By YLS Admit 1:41p.m. on April 29, 2009

I had the opportunity to have a small lunch with Professor Koh last week during a set of events for newly admitted students at the law school. Upon first impression, it was eminently obvious that he is a genuinely good, honest man with the best interests of our country at heart and more integrity than most people in the public sphere during the past 8 years. I hope that Senate Republicans will put their partisan agendas behind them and confirm Koh, as he is the best choice for the country.

#5 By Yale 08 3:13p.m. on April 29, 2009

Yikes to the above commenter.

If that's the kind of judgment coming out of YLS, we are all screwed.

Koh is like all politicians (and most of mankind). He is after his own self-interest.

Capitalism once rewarded such men for their ability to produce.

This new kind of government rewards self-interest by favoring the special interests.

Koh will be a disaster if he makes it to the Supreme Court.

leave your false sense of altruistic intent at home

#6 By David B 03 7:03p.m. on April 29, 2009

Just what is the mighty Ross & Rose etc. Law Firm on the Avenue of Americas worried about ? What can possibly make the great ..... a jittery and nervous securities barristers ?

#7 By Y 05 2:20a.m. on April 30, 2009

You have a bleak view of humanity, #5, for someone so young and inexperienced. I regret and am truly sorry for the events (or nonevents) that led you to it.

#8 By Recent Alum 4:44p.m. on May 20, 2009

An interesting website for those who want to find out more information about Koh and the kind of Justice he would be:

http://preservesovereignty.wordpress.com/koh_letter/

#9 By Y2k 11:12a.m. on June 23, 2009

Y 05: It is easy to be so optimistic and idealistic when you are living on taxpayer funds and advocating policy for others. Those of us who are in the real world working to make a living do not have such a grandiose view of life in the USA. American politics is all about special interest and your failure to see Koh's selfish motives here is daunting. You must be one of those coolaid drinking Obama supporters.

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