Law Professors Immune from Sanctions for ICC Involvement

Published: Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 2:29 pm

Federal Judge Blocks Sanctions Against Law Professors Linked to ICC

A federal judge in Manhattan has issued a ruling preventing the Trump administration from imposing sanctions on two U.S. citizens, both law professors, for their association with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed in April by Cardozo Law Professor Gabor Rona and CUNY School of Law Professor Lisa Davis. The lawsuit challenged a February executive order that imposed sanctions on the ICC and restricted interactions with designated ICC officials, threatening civil and criminal penalties for violations.

The professors argued that the order threatened to penalize them for providing educational services, advice, training, and other support to the ICC's Prosecutor, including assistance with investigations and prosecutions of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The potential penalties included up to 20 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, an Obama appointee, largely sided with the professors, issuing a permanent injunction against all defendants except President Trump. The judge referenced past attempts by the Trump administration to sanction ICC-related individuals, highlighting the similarity to previous efforts deemed potentially unconstitutional by another court.

The court order specifically bars the Trump administration from enforcing civil or criminal penalties against the law professors based on their provision of education, training, analysis, and other services to the ICC. The order details a range of activities protected by the injunction, including submitting evidence, engaging in advocacy, organizing speaking engagements, discussing the ICC in various settings, communicating with the ICC, drafting policy documents, providing guidance, liaising with victims and witnesses, training staff, serving on advisory committees, and presenting to judges.

Andrew Loewenstein, the lead attorney for the professors, praised the ruling, stating it vindicated their First Amendment rights and allowed them to continue supporting the ICC's investigations and prosecutions. This ruling follows a similar decision in Maine, which also enjoined the government from enforcing the executive order against human rights advocates working with the ICC.

BNN's Perspective:

This ruling underscores the ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration's efforts to limit the ICC's influence. While the administration's concerns about the ICC's jurisdiction are understandable, this decision highlights the importance of protecting First Amendment rights and ensuring that legal scholars can provide support to international bodies without fear of reprisal. The court's decision strikes a balance, preventing the government from punishing individuals for providing legal and educational services while still allowing the administration to pursue its broader foreign policy goals.

Keywords: ICC, International Criminal Court, sanctions, Trump administration, law professors, Gabor Rona, Lisa Davis, Jesse M. Furman, executive order, First Amendment, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, injunction, legal education, civil penalties, criminal penalties, human rights, advocacy, legal support

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