On Friday, March 27, 2009, the International Law Students Association and the American Society of International Law co-hosted a dinner event in Washington D.C. to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. More than just a celebration, the event was also a successful fundraising effort to support the next 50 years of the competition. Proceeds from the dinner will provide critical support to the Competition, including financial aid to teams who would not otherwise be able to participate in the Competition.

More than 800 individuals attended the event, including students, lawyers, and long-time supporters of the Jessup Competition from all over the world. Dame Rosalyn Higgins, the recently-retired President of the International Court of Justice, spoke at the event about the Court and the future of international law. Other current and former judges of the ICJ attended the Celebration, including Stephen M. Schwebel, who served as the Court's President and who authored the first Jessup Competition Problem as a young professor at Harvard Law School in 1959. Judge Schwebel spoke at the Jessup Celebration about the creation of the Competition. Click here to read a transcript of Judge Schwebel's remarks.

ILSA would like to thank event sponsors, Friends of the Jessup, and other leaders in the international legal community who attended the event and honored a Competition that has truly made a positive impact on our global community.

Sponsors of the Jessup 50th Anniversary Celebration

Special Thanks to the Organizers of the Anniversary Celebration

Photos of the Jessup 50th Anniversary Celebration

View the Jessup Celebration Program

Invitation to the Jessup 50th Anniversary Celebration

Make a Donation to the Jessup Competition