What Is Comparative Law?
Comparative law is a study that compares and contrasts laws of different countries. This is achieved by exploring in depth the different worldwide legal systems in existence. Talk of Canon law, civil law, Islamic law, common law, Chinese law, socialist law, Hindu law, and the Jewish Law.
With economic globalization being on the rise, Comparative law plays a vital role in maintaining cross-borders peace and order. Democratization and internationalism also contribute to the need for a comparative law.
History Of Comparative Law
Comparative law traces its history back to Europe in the 18th century. It was first taught at the University of Oxford in 1869. However, an immigrant Rudolf Schlesinger, who was fleeing prosecution in Germany, introduced Comparative law in the US. He eventually lectured the subject at the Cornell Law School.
Modern Comparative Law Practices
There are several implementers of Comparative Law. One of the strongest activists of modern time is Professor Sujit Choudhry. He became popular after handling the case of Omar Khadr which was highly publicized.
Omar was a Canadian citizen being held solely at Guantánamo Bay. Choudhry together with his two co-panelists drafted a proposal which forced the city government to restructure. But that wasn’t easy. Along the way, the defense counsel downed their tools to an extent of paralyzing the criminal justice system in Ontario.
About Sujit Choudhry
Born in Delhi, life couldn’t have been easier for Sujit Choudhry. However being raised in Toronto by his Indian immigrant parents groomed him to be a scholar. And he lived up to his parent’s expectations and beyond.
Choudhry As An Author
- Constitutional Design for Divided Societies
- The Migration of Constitutional Ideas
- Constitution Making
- The Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution
Advisory Boards That Choudhry Belongs To
Having funded the Center for Constitutional Transitions, Choudhry commands respect in various board sittings. Below are just but a few of them.
- Board of Editors – for the International Journal of Constitutional Law
- Constitutional Court Review Editorial Board.
- The Editorial Advisory Board – for Cambridge Studies in the Constitutional Law.
- United Nations Mediation Roster
Just to mention, the Center for Constitutional Transitions empowers the community with knowledge of the constitution. They handle democratic transitions in territories and emerging democracies, reforms in the security sector, and general security oversight.