What is the doctrine of universal jurisdiction and how does it apply to international litigation?

The doctrine of universal jurisdiction is a legal principle that states governments have the authority to prosecute individuals for a range of serious international crimes, such as war crimes, torture, and genocide. This authority applies regardless of where the act was committed, or where the offender is from. This makes it possible for a government to exercise its authority to prosecute an individual even if it does not have an otherwise valid basis of jurisdiction, such as when a person is physically located in the territory of a different state. In California, this doctrine is applied in international litigation matters, meaning that the state can exercise its authority to prosecute someone who is from outside of the state and has committed a serious international crime. For example, if California had evidence of a suspect from another country committing torture, California could seek to prosecute that individual even though the suspect is not a resident of California. The doctrine of universal jurisdiction is an important tool for protecting universal human rights, as it provides a mechanism for countries to prosecute individuals who have committed serious international crimes, even if they are from another country. Without this principle, many individuals could escape accountability for their actions, as proving a valid basis of jurisdiction can be difficult in many cases.

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What is the doctrine of universal jurisdiction and how does it apply to international litigation?

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