Dr. Richard H. Steinberg, Editor-in-Chief ICC Forum

Richard Steinberg is the Jonathan D. Varat Endowed Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science at UCLA, where he writes and teaches in the areas of international law and international relations, with a focus on international economic law, international criminal law, and human rights.

He is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Member of United States Trade Representative’s Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee, Chair of the International Trade Law Committee of the American Branch of the International Law Association, Director of Trade Policy Research at the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy (BRIE) at UC Berkeley, and Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning ICC Forum.

Professor Steinberg has served as Counselor to the American Society of International Law, on the Board of Editors of the American Journal of International Law (2004–2014), and on the Editorial Board of International Organization (2003–2012). He has taught law courses on six continents including at Stanford Law School, the University of California Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law, Sciences Po (Institut d’Etudes Politiques) in France, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and the University of São Paulo in Brazil.

Dr. Steinberg has written over sixty articles and book chapters on international law. Recent books include: The International Criminal Court: Contemporary Challenges and Reform Proposals (Brill/Nijhoff, 2020);Contemporary Issues Facing the International Criminal Court (Brill/Nijhoff, 2016);Assessing the Legacy of the ICTY (Martinus Nijhoff, 2011; BCS translation, ICTY, 2011);International Institutions (co-edited) (SAGE, 2009);International Law and International Relations (co-edited) (Cambridge University Press, 2007); and The Evolution of the Trade Regime: Economics, Law, and Politics of the GATT/WTO (co-authored) (Princeton University Press, 2006; Chinese translation, Peking University Press, 2013).

Prior to arriving at UCLA, Professor Steinberg worked as Assistant General Counsel to the United States Trade Representative in Washington, D.C., and later as an associate with Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco. A graduate of Yale, he holds a J.D. and Ph.D. degree from Stanford, was a Ford Foundation Fellow at Harvard, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellow at Stanford.

All debates are open for comment.

• Israel and Hamas Question

  With regard to the Israel/Hamas conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, to what extent can the International Criminal Court deter crimes in the region, facilitate a reduction of violence, provide accountability for criminality in the conflict, or advance post-conflict reconciliation between Israelis and the Palestinian people? Twenty-third major question begun on February 22, 2024.

• Decentralized Accountability Question

  How, and to what extent, should the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor engage with national, regional, or other authorities or organizations to support accountability for those accused of grave crimes? Twenty-second major question begun on September 13, 2023.

• The Legal Traditions Question

  To what extent has the ICC under-represented non-Western laws, principles, rules, procedures, practices, or traditions in its legal structure and system? Twenty-first major question begun on July 25, 2022.

• The Cyberwarfare Question

  To what extent and under what conditions might cyber operations or cyberwarfare constitute crimes specified in the Rome Statute? Twentieth major question begun on March 7, 2022.

• The Gravity Question

  What is the universe of cases upon which the ICC should focus? What should be the threshold for the gravity that warrants investigation of a situation or prosecution of those most responsible? Nineteenth major question begun on July 1, 2021.

• The U.S. Sanctions Question

  Is it appropriate or effective for the United States to attempt to influence the actions of the ICC by means of the sanctions set forth in President Trump’s June 2020 Executive Order? Eighteenth major question begun on January 8, 2021.

• The Cyber Evidence Question

  To what extent can cyber evidence repositories, and digital and open-source evidence, facilitate the work of the OTP, and the ICC more generally? Seventeenth major question begun on June 1, 2020.

• The Completion Strategy Question

  What might be some elements of an ICC completion strategy for situations under investigation? Sixteenth major question begun on February 24, 2020.

• The Superior Responsibility Question

  What does the Bemba Appeal Judgment say about superior responsibility under Article 28 of the Rome Statute? Fifteenth major question begun on May 27, 2019.

• The Anniversary Question

  In the Rome Statute’s third decade, what key reforms could make the international criminal justice project stronger, more efficient, and more effective? Fourteenth major question begun on June 28, 2018.

• The Aggression Question

  How should the ICC investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression? Thirteenth major question begun on February 12, 2018.

• The Performance Question

  How can the performance of the ICC be properly assessed? Twelfth major question begun on July 10, 2017.

• The Withdrawal Question

  How will the withdrawal of some African States from the ICC affect international justice? Eleventh major question begun on November 15, 2016.

• The Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Question

  How to improve cooperation of first responders to assist ICC investigations of SGBV? Tenth major question begun on April 12, 2016.

• The Outreach Question

  How can the ICC Improve its Outreach Efforts? Ninth major question begun on February 17, 2015.

• The Arrest Question

  What More Can Be Done to Secure Arrests? Eighth major question begun on February 13, 2014.

• The Africa Question

  Is the ICC Targeting Africa Inappropriately? Seventh major question begun on March 17, 2013.

• The Mass Rape Question

  Do Individual Victims of Mass Rape Have to Testify? Sixth major question begun on June 26, 2012.

• The Reparations Question

  Reparations for Addressing Mass Atrocities and War Crimes? Fifth major question begun on February 6, 2012.

• The Prevention Question

  How can the ICC Maximize its Crime Prevention Impact? Fourth major question begun on October 6, 2011.

• The Libya Question

  Where Should Saif al-Islam Gaddafi be Tried? Special member debate begun on November 21, 2011.

• The Oversight Question

  What is the Proper Balance Between Oversight and Independence? Third major question begun on May 6, 2011.

• The Darfur Question

  What Should the ICC Do About the Darfur Situation? Second major question begun on January 26, 2011.

• The Gaza Jurisdiction Question

  Should the ICC Investigate War Crimes in Gaza? First major question begun on September 1, 2010.

• The Exit Interview

  Amplify on the issues raised in the video Exit Interview of Luis Moreno-Ocampo. Special feature begun on February 13, 2014.

• The Universality Lecture

  If Desirable, How Can Universal State Participation Be Achieved? Special lecture and debate begun on March 5, 2013.

• The Peace Lecture

  To What Extent can the ICC Advance Peace Around the World? Special lecture and debate begun on February 19, 2013.

• The Victims Lecture

  How can Victims Rights and Representation be Improved at the ICC? Special lecture and debate begun on February 12, 2013.

• The Arrest Lecture

  How can the ICC Secure the Arrest and Surrender of Indictees? Special lecture and debate begun on February 5, 2013.

• The Efficiency Lecture

  How Could the ICC Become More Efficient? Special lecture and debate begun on January 29, 2013.

• The Deterrence Lecture

  Is Deterrence of Mass Atrocities an Attainable Goal of the ICC? Special lecture and debate begun on January 22, 2013.

• The Security Council Lecture

  Relationship Between the ICC and the UN Security Council? Special lecture and debate begun on January 15, 2013.

• The Politics Lecture

  Should the Prosecutor Consider or Engage in Politics? Special lecture and debate begun on January 8, 2013.