Ed Balls.

Back to Den Haag for the second weekend in a row, this time to the International Criminal Court with the Inner Temple for the International Circuit dinner. Many thanks to HE Judge Joanna Korner CMG KC, HE Judge Kimberly Prost, Rod Dixon KC and Dr. Leonie von Braun and to the amazing team at Inner!

It’s been great fun spending the weekend in The Hague for the IBA War Crimes Committee annual conference. Many thanks to the formidable Kate McInnes and Arendt Chambers for the invitation, and to the organisers for a fantastic range of speakers on contemporary topics in international criminal law.

📢 TOMORROW: IBA Events ‘IBA War Crimes Committee Conference 2026: Masters of war' #IBAWCC 🗓️18 Apr 2026 🌎 The Hague, Netherlands ✍️More Info!➡ https://t.co/RH5qFYOIkB#IBAWCC 🔹Presented by the IBA War Crimes Committee #Law

Blue

You don't need to come from a legal family to become a Bencher 🎓 Watch Master Hannah Smith speak about her experience of becoming a Bencher. Guidance and an application form are available on our website 💻: buff.ly/wkTr2VM 🗓️ The deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 14 April. #becomingabencher

‘Court of Appeal upholds convictions and 30 year sentence for multiple attempted murders in case prosecuted by Thom Dyke’ www.dekachambers.com/2026/04/07/c...

NEW A controversial view about probation - I don't expect everyone will agree. But there are points in my article for the Telegraph about inexperience, a shortage of male probation staff & flaws in risk assessment & public protection that urgently need addressing: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04...

Nice to be quoted in this piece on the Probation Service by @dannyshaw.bsky.social in @telegraph.co.uk: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04...

In case you missed… A rare look at the contrasts between those who live on U.S. supplies at the base at Guantánamo Bay and the Cubans on the other side of their minefield in this time of an oil blockade. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/30/u...

proud to host episode 69 🙂‍↕️

When you’re up to your neck writing a piece on the law of evidence in international law, and then Called to the Bar casually drops an episode on it… 😐

M. Gessen has spent a career writing about tyrants and terrorists. Their most baffling subject yet? Their own cousin. Our new show "The Idiot" is out March 26. nyti.ms/4uRnTMU

A much-needed night off at the Royal Opera House to see Siegfried. Can’t help wishing we still inscribed treaties on magic staffs… “Heil’ger Verträge Treue-Runen schnitt in den Schaft er ein.”

News: The judge has ruled against a prosecution bid to resurrect some 2011 interrogations of a Saudi man who was held at Guantanamo for years, as explained in this article. The government's last option appears to be seeking his live testimony at trial. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/u...

I've struggled to find a way to describe the Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Cox KC MP's speech on retaining juries without resorting to gushing superlatives, but it is a masterclass in the use of language, pace, structure, response to intervention, and even - dare I say it - hand gestures.

It's Sunshine Week* in drizzly dark Washington D.C. So I'm resurrecting an old favorite from the editorial pages of The Miami Herald. (*A celebration of freedom of information, it coincides with the birthday of James Madison, who presented the first version of the Bill of Rights to Congress.)

Jürgen Habermas, a philosopher and public intellectual who was one of the most influential and cited thinkers in postwar Germany, died on Saturday. He was 96.

Jule Snackenberg talks about youth movement in bringing climate change to the International Court of Justice. Humanising these stories, makes the truth of climate change real. #DoughtyStWomen #IWD2026

The Legality of the UK Interception of Iranian Missiles and Permitting a Limited US Use of British Bases | by Marko Milanovic

I’m looking forward to speaking at the Jesus College Cambridge Intellectual Forum (@jesuscollegecam.bsky.social) this Thursday, where I’m appearing alongside a stellar cast of other speakers.

Terrific fun at the Old Bailey yesterday for the English National Opera performance of Trial by Jury, together with some familiar faces in the Old Bailey Choir, helping to support the Sheriffs’ and Recorder’s Fund for prisoner rehabilitation. A special mention to the LCJ for her turn on stage!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...

Taking a step back from the flurry of international law 'hot takes' on the situation in Venezuela, it's worth revisiting the analysis of @oonahathaway.bsky.social and Scott J. Shapiro in @foreignaffairs.com on the collapse of norms against the use of force: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

At this time of year, make sure you check in on your international law colleagues and see that they are coping!

For many years Christmas hasn't been Christmas until the King William's College quiz is in position... buying a Guardian daily used to ensure I didn't miss it, but for anyone who, like me, has got out of that habit, here's the link: kwc.im/wp-content/u...

The #ICJ will hear the case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya from January 12-29, the first time the ICJ considers a genocide in a decade & one that will set precedents for South Africa’s case against Israel over the war in Gaza: www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

Despite the social media tendency towards hyperbole, I'm genuinely excited to join the Executive Committee of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, and helping continue their vital work supporting the rule of law and human rights around the world barhumanrights.org.uk/announcing-t...

Terrific fun being back again in Den Haag at the International Criminal Court to deliver advanced trial advocacy training in international criminal law, on behalf of the Institute for International Legal and Advocacy Training (IILAT) and The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

Apparently, #Ukraine has decided to 'suspend' the Ottawa Convention, which is not even permitted under the treaty. Being in armed conflict is certainly not reason to 'suspend' #IHL. That's the whole point; that's when IHL applies! #intLaw www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...

Signs of resilience amidst troubling times in The Hague: Some thoughts from on the good and the bad from this year's Assembly of States Parties justiceinconflict.org/2025/12/04/t... #ICC #ASP24

Now seems as good a moment as any to re-post this gem from Tony Hancock on the jury system, which is every bit as coherent as some of the contemporary commentary!

Can the criminal Bar (of which I count myself a proud member) please stop making arguments for jury trials by misty-eyed appeals to tradition, fundamental rights, or assuming that it’s somehow superior to the alternative in terms of outcome?

It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to spend the last week in Sierra Leone teaching advocacy. Many thanks to the Chief Justice, the Hon. Komba Kamanda, for his support and in allowing us to use the court facilities. Heartfelt thanks to my fellow trainers, not least the Hon. Justice Glenna Thompson

I’m struck by the tone in which judgments are written in South Africa. Not just in the Constitutional Court, but across the board, where they often provide an object lesson in the power of quietly dignified judicial writing.

The great poet of the English Republic and of free speech comes to @innertemple.org.uk “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” #milton #Paradise_Lost #Areopagitica PS that Royal Proclamation is Charles II banning his books

Are you in Oxford on November 6? If so, consider joining me for my talk, "War Unbound"! Details below.

Vote Camembert and Brie! #stopthesteal #makekittiesgreatagain lawpawcalendar.com/vote-now-for...

Periodic reminder that Erskine May is freely available online

Not how. Why.

Having been described in previous years as “punchy” and “pugilistic”, it’s a genuine pleasure to have my advocacy recognised in Chambers and Partners as compassionate and empathetic. It goes to show that you can be every bit as effective without any need for aggression in court.

Congratulations to The Criminal Bar Association for their inaugural Young Bar Day which took place on Saturday. It was a pleasure and a privilege to to speak to the next generation of advocates about wellbeing and mental health issues, alongside a stellar cast including The Rt Hon Lord Justice…

If you're in Copenhagen October 10, come see Andrew Cayley KC, who ran the Palestine investigation at the #ICC, give a Centre for Military Studies talk entitled "The Future of International Criminal Justice: An Insider’s View." 15:00 at the Law Faculty. Register: cms.polsci.ku.dk/events/the-f...