First Paragraph
Recently, in Saudi Arabia v. Nelson, the Supreme Court had the unique occasion to declare that the United States, in its dedication to the promotion of human rights, would provide its domestic courts as forums of redress for those suffering human rights abuses at the hands of foreign governments. In particular, Nelson involved the claim of an American left permanently disabled after thirty-nine days of torture inflicted by Saudi officials. Despite the heinous abuses Nelson endured, the Court opted to dismiss the suit in deference to the sovereign immunity of Saudi Arabia. As a result, the Court forever barred Nelson from receiving any compensation or retribution for his suffering.
Recommended Citation
Michelle Fastiggi, The Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity-A Jurisdictional Shield for Foreign Nations and their Accountability for Human Rights Violations, Saudi Arabia v. Nelson, 113 S. Ct. 1471 (1993), 12 Penn St. Int'l L. Rev. 387 (1994).