TW: Many Republicans fret endlessly about the decline of US power. One source of American power has been the influence American law has internationally. Few actions are more flattering than international courts looking upon the US courts for guidance for their own jurisprudence. Unfortunately this export market, one of the US's true sources of influence in the world, is in decline.
This decline is partially the result of the maturation of international courts but also the result of the US's dimunition of civil rights post 9/11 and the avid opposition of right wing judges such as Scalia to making the transfer of knowledge a two way street. Many Republicans tremble at the mere hint of considering international law when making US law.
From NYT:
" 'One of our great exports used to be constitutional law. We are losing one of the greatest bully pulpits we have ever had...' The adamant opposition of some Supreme Court justices to the citation of foreign law in their own opinions also plays a role, some foreign judges say...The rightward shift of the Supreme Court may partly account for its diminished influence. 'Twenty years ago, said Anthony Lester...the landmark decisions of the court were “studied with as much attention in New Delhi or Strasbourg as they are in Washington, D.C.' "
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/us/18legal.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1221692558-0sLo8sTmJP5BGxGQYvFYig
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