Gerry Simpson. “Warriors, Humanitarians, Lawyers: The Howard Government and the Use of Force.” Australian Year Book of International Law, vol. 27, (2008): 143-164.
This article highlights the critical role attorneys, especially public international lawyers, play in analyzing, challenging, and shaping legal frameworks around the use of force such as those implicated in the Iraq War and doctrines like pre-emptive strike. In backsliding democracies or states engaged in controversial military actions, attorneys serve as key actors in holding governments accountable to international law, interpreting complex legal standards like the crime of aggression, and ensuring legal debates remain part of public discourse. Their work is vital in resisting the erosion of legal norms and advocating for justice even amid political and military failures.