Can criminal prosecution become a tool for changing foreign governments? Steven Koh ’08 explored that question during a September 29 talk at Cornell Law School, part of the Berger International Speaker Series, examining what he calls “warrant warfare”—the fusion of criminal prosecution and military power.

Koh, professor of law and R. Gordon Butler Scholar in International Law at Boston University School of Law, discussed the Trump administration’s approach to Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba. He argued that the erosion of traditional boundaries between criminal justice and foreign policy allows federal indictments to become instruments of pressure and intervention. He warned of consequences for congressional war powers, international restrictions on military force, and the potential for retaliatory arrests by other countries.

Moderated by Estelle McKee, associate dean for experiential education and clinical professor of law, the session featured frequent exchanges with students about prosecutorial independence, international accountability, and legal careers.
A former Justice Department prosecutor who also worked at international courts in The Hague, Koh recalled his own Cornell experience and encouraged students to persevere through the challenges of their first year. He explained that mastering legal fundamentals prepares students to pursue their individual interests in later coursework and practice.

“This is really learning the grammar of law,” he said. “Then once you learn the grammar, then you can start to write your poetry.”