Enemy of Mankind

The Alien Tort Statute (ATS), inspired by 18th-century Frenchmen, enabled American human rights litigation. A Paraguayan woman used the ATS to seek justice for a crime committed in her nation. The Supreme Court grappled with the conflict between human rights and national sovereignty as America's global reach expanded. Jesner v. Arab Bank, a recent Supreme Court case, could redefine America's response to international human rights violations. The case questions whether the ATS protects human rights or represents an overreach of American power. The podcast episode features music by Nicolas Carter and expresses gratitude to numerous individuals. Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr., who appears in the episode, passed away in October 2016. Archival audio from the Supreme Court comes from Oyez, a free law project. Radiolab is supported by donations and encourages listeners to become members.