Michael J. Kelly, BA, LLM, JD

The Senator Allen A. Sekt Endowed Chair in Law

Professor

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Contact

MichaelKelly@creighton.edu
School of Law
Faculty - Law
Ahmanson Law Center 277

Michael J. Kelly, BA, LLM, JD

The Senator Allen A. Sekt Endowed Chair in Law

Professor

An authority on cyber law, climate change, international law, and national security law, Professor Kelly coordinates the International and Comparative Law Program at Creighton University School of Law, including its nationally-ranked summer school on international criminal law and the Holocaust in Germany: The Howard Kaiman From Nuremberg to The Hague Program, and is founding Director of Creighton’s Samuel & Ida Kaiman Center for International Criminal Justice & Holocaust Studies.

 

Professor Kelly serves on several governing boards including the Board of Directors of L’Association International du Droit Pénal, a Paris-based society of international criminal law scholars, judges and attorneys founded in 1924 that enjoys consultative status with the United Nations, the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Natural Resources & Energy Law based in Denver, the Board of Directors of the International Scientific & Professional Council of the United Nations Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice Programme based in Milan, and the Board of Advisors of the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice & Human Rights based in Sicily.

 

Cyber Policy

As co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Internet Governance with David Satola, Lead Counsel for Technology & Innovation at the World Bank, Professor Kelly is a prominent figure on international governance issues for AI and the Internet. Together, they are publishing a new matrix tracking the migration of human rights from physical space to digital space extending their prior work at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Illinois that will be published as a book with Chris Watson by Oxford University Press in 2026.

 

Ukraine Policy

Standing firmly against Russian aggression in Ukraine, Professor Kelly has traveled to Poland and Ukraine lecturing on the seizure of frozen Russian corporate assets, training Ukrainian prosecutors on how to bring environmental crimes cases against Russian commanders, and teaching remotely at Ukrainian law schools in Odessa, Kyiv, and Lviv. His scholarly work appears at the University of Texas, Case Western, and Emory University, on West Point’s Lieber Institute Articles of War Blog, and he continues to advocate for robust international legal responses on behalf of Ukraine – most recently on the Just Security Blog.

Cuba Policy
In the wake of Fidel Castro’s demise, American foreign policy with respect to Cuba has been in flux. Professor Kelly has been on the front lines of that change as an expert on the international law of expropriations. Professor Kelly wrote the grant awarded by the federal government to the School of Law calling for creation of a Cuba/U.S. bilateral property claims settlement tribunal to be used to settle the claims of companies and citizens whose property was confiscated by the Castro regime when it came to power in 1959. Professor Kelly and the team of six law and political science faculty tasked with building this model reported their recommendations as a book on The Resolution of Outstanding Property Claims between Cuba & the United States (Creighton University Press 2007). He testified in Congress in 2010 on this issue as it relates to lifting the embargo on Cuba.

Professor Kelly and Creighton faculty have taken many interviews on this subject following up on a larger article in the Boston Globe, including those from Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald, Globe & Mail, Washington Post and Associated Press.  Their supplemental work in the area produced another book, the Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Relationship: New Pathways & Policy Choices (Oxford University Press 2019), that Professor Kelly had the opportunity to present to Pope Francis at a meeting in the Vatican in appreciation for his role in re-opening U.S.-Cuba relations in 2014.

 

Research

An award-winning author and researcher, Professor Kelly is the author/editor of eight books and over 50 journal articles influencing the development of legal theory in key areas such as cyber governance, international criminal justice, and corporate liability – including incorporation of ESG into board governance strategy. Follow the link below to explore more publications.


Full text publications

Teaching Interests

  • International Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, Cyber Law, National Security Law, Native American Law

Research Focus

International Law, Cyber Law (Internet Governance), Climate Change, National Security & Foreign Relations Law, International Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Environmental & Natural Resources Law, Native American Law

Department

Law

Position

Professor

Book, Chapter/Section

  • Ukraine and the Legal Accountability of Russia
    Kelly Michael J., Prosecuting Environmental Crimes in Ukraine as either War Crimes or Ecocide [Book Chapter] 2026
  • Nuremberg Principles and Ukraine: The Contemporary Challenges to Peace, Security and Justice
    Kelly Michael J., Locating Legitimacy Troughlines in the Structural Design of International and “Internationalized” Criminal Tribunals [Book Chapter] 2025
  • The Genocide of the Christian Populations in the Ottoman Empire and Its Aftermath (1908-1923)
    Kelly Michael J., Shared Intent in a Collapsing Empire [Book Chapter] 2023
  • Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals: The International Criminal Court 2014-2015
    Kelly Michael J., Commentary [Book Chapter] 2021
  • Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals: The International Criminal Court 2012-2014
    Kelly Michael J., Commentary [Book Chapter] 2020
  • The Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Relationship: New Pathways and Policy Choices
    Kelly Michael J., Moreno Erika, Witmer Richard C., Conclusion [Book Chapter] 2019
  • The Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Relationship: New Pathways and Policy Choices
    Kelly Michael J., Moreno Erika, Witmer Richard C., U.S. property claims in Cuba [Book Chapter] 2019
  • The Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Relationship: New Pathways and Policy Choices
    Kelly Michael J., Moreno Erika, Witmer Richard C., Succession versus transition [Book Chapter] 2019
  • The Cuba-U.S. Bilateral Relationship: New Pathways and Policy Choices
    Kelly Michael J., Moreno Erika, Witmer Richard C., Introduction [Book Chapter] 2019
  • The International Law of Disaster Relief
    Kelly Michael J., Introduction [Book Chapter] 2014
  • Victims of International Crimes: An Interdisciplinary Discourse
    Kelly Michael J., The status of victims under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court [Book Chapter] 2013
  • International Law in the New Age of Globalization
    Kelly Michael J., The parameters of vicarious corporate [Book Chapter] 2013
  • Cuba in Transition
    Kelly Michael J., Witmer Richard, Resolution of outstanding property claims between Cuba and the United States [Book Chapter] 2008
  • Comparative Federalism in the Devolution Era
    Kelly Michael J., Traveling the road to Rambouillet [Book Chapter] 2002

Books

  • Kelly Michael J., Ghosts of Halabja 2008
  • Borchers Patrick J., Kelly Michael J., Witmer Richard C., Moreno Erika, Pearlstein Arthur, Report on the resolution of outstanding property claims between Cuba and the United States 2007
  • Kelly Michael J., Nowhere to hide 2005
  • Mack Raneta Lawson, Kelly Michael J., Equal justice in the balance 2004

General

  • Uchimiya Diane, Kelly Michael, McGreal Paul, ICE's relocation of Minnesota detainees echo Korematsu mistakes 2026
  • The Cuba-U.S. bilateral relationship 2019
  • Kelly Michael J., Eichmann before Jerusalem 2016
  • Caron David D., Kelly Michael J., Telesetsky Anastasia, The international law of disaster relief 2014
  • Kelly Michael J., Nazis after Hitler 2013
  • Kelly Michael J., The Tokyo International Military Tribunal 2009
  • Kelly Michael J., Perspectives on the Nuremberg trial 2009
  • Kelly Michael J., Law after Auschwitz 2007
  • Kelly Michael J., Of speech, politics, and circular history 2006
  • Kelly Michael J., Kissinger's world 2002
  • Kelly Michael J., Teaching international environmental law -- Tools of the trade 1999
  • Kelly Michael J., The illusory nature of environmental protection in a Marxist-socialist polity 1998

Articles

  • Kelly Michael, Martin Craig, Trump's endgame for the war in Ukraine 2025
  • Creighton Lawyer
    Kelly Michael, Message from the Dean, p. 3 2018
  • Creighton Lawyer
    Kelly Michael, Message from the Dean, p. 3 2017
  • Creighton Lawyer
    Kelly Michael J., Cuba, p. 14 - 17 2015
  • Cuban Affairs
    Witmer Richard C., Moreno Erika, Borchers Patrick J., Kelly Michael J., A proposed property claims settlement mechanism for the United States and Cuba
    2, p. 1 - 11 2007
  • Creighton Lawyer
    Kelly Michael J., The genocide of the Iraqi Kurds and trial of Saddam Hussein, p. 10 - 21 2005
  • Creighton University Magazine
    Mack Raneta Lawson, Kelly Michael J., The war on terror, p. 14 - 19 2003
  • Creighton Lawyer
    Kelly Michael J., The Milosevic prosecution and the erosion of sovereign immunity, p. 12 - 13 2002

Publications

  • Emory international law review
    Kelly Michael, War crime or ecocide?
    40:1, p. 3 - 34 2025
  • Notre Dame journal of international and comparative law
    Kelly Michael, Legitimacy throughlines in the structural design of international & 'internationalized' criminal tribunals, p. 55 - 146 2025
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael, The role of international law in the Russia-Ukraine War
    55:1 & 2, p. 61 - 92 2023
  • University of Pennsylvania Journal of Law and Social Change
    Kelly Michael, Satola David, Internet human rights
    26:3, p. 255 - 332 2023
  • Creighton Law Review
    Kelly Michael J, Tribute for Associate Dean Richard McFayden
    55:2, p. 143 - 144 2022
  • Marquette Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Quiescent sovereignty of U.S. territories
    105:3, p. 501 - 557 2022
  • Michigan State Law Review
    Kelly Michael, ESG
    2022:4, p. 811 - 841 2022
  • Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems
    Kelly Michael J., Shared intent in a collapsing empire
    30:1, p. 29 - 62 2021
  • Revue Internationale de Droit Penal: Criminal Justice and Corporate Business
    Kelly Michael J., Combatting corporate impunity for complicity in genocide under international law
    2020, p. 301 - 322 2021
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., United Nations Security Council permanent membership and the veto problem
    52, p. 101 - 118 2020
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., Atrocities by corporate actors
    50:1 & 2, p. 49 - 89 2018
  • University of Illinois Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Satola David, The right to be forgotten
    2017:1, p. 1 - 63 2017
  • Revue Internationale de Droit Penal
    Seaborne Alison, Kelly Micheal J., United States’ report on business involvement in international crimes
    88:1, p. 343 - 365 2017
  • Creighton Lawyer
    Kelly Michael J., Surviving genocide, p. 18 - 21 2016
  • Business Law Today
    Satola David, Kelly Michael J., Internet governance overview
    24:3, p. 1 - 2 2014
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., The pre-history of piracy as a crime and its definitional odyssey
    46:1 & 2, p. 25 - 42 2013
  • Berkeley Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., 'Never again'?
    31:2, p. 348 - 391 2013
  • Harvard Law & Policy Review
    Kelly Michael J., Prosecuting corporations for Genocide under international law
    6:2, p. 339 - 367 2012
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., United States' ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention
    45:1 & 2, p. 461 - 472 2012
  • Oregon Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Ending corporate impunity for genocide
    90:2, p. 413 - 448 2011
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., The evolution of international law
    44:1 & 2, p. 41 - 46 2011
  • U.C. Davis Journal of International Law & Policy
    Kelly Michael J., The debate over genocide in Darfur, Sudan
    18:1, p. 205 - 223 2011
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    Kelly Michael J., The Catholic intellectual tradition in the context of the legal academy
    6, p. 79 - 88 2011
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., The status of corporations in the Travaux Préparatoires of the Genocide Convention
    43:1 & 2, p. 483 - 490 2011
  • Victoria University of Wellington Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Watts Sean, Rethinking the security architecture of North East Asia
    41:2, p. 273 - 289 2010
  • Pace International Law Review Online Companion
    Kelly Michael, Islam & international criminal law, p. 1 - 31 2010
  • Emory International Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Grafting the command responsibility doctrine onto corporate criminal liability for atrocities
    24:2, p. 671 - 696 2010
  • Penn State Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., The Kurdish regional constitution within the framework of the Iraqi federal constitution
    114:3, p. 707 - 808 2010
  • William Mitchell Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Responses to the ten questions
    35:5, p. 5059 - 5066 2009
  • Journal of National Security Law & Policy
    Kelly Michael J., Charting America's return to public international law under the Obama administration
    3:2, p. 239 - 262 2009
  • Creighton Law Review
    Borchers Patrick J., Kelly Michael J., Moreno Erika, Witmer Richard C., Wunsch James S., Pearlstein Arthur, Executive summary
    41:2, p. 207 - 218 2008
  • Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., 'Genocide'
    40:1, p. 147 - 162 2008
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    Kelly Michael J., Just war from a legal perspective, p. 92 - 95 2008
  • Journal of Genocide Research
    Kelly Michael J., The Anfal trial against Saddam Hussein
    9:2, p. 235 - 242 2007
  • Wisconsin International Law Journal
    Kelly Michael J., The Article 9 pacifism clause and Japan's place in the world
    25:3, p. 491 - 505 2007
  • UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs
    Kelly Michael J., Pulling at the threads of Westphalia
    10:2, p. 361 - 442 2005
  • Cornell International Law Journal
    Kelly Michael J., The tricky nature of proving genocide against Saddam Hussein before the Iraqi Special Tribunal
    38:3, p. 983 - 1012 2005
  • International Legal Theory
    Kelly Michael J., Aut dedere aut judicare and the death penalty extradition prohibition
    10, p. 53 - 81 2004
  • Indiana International & Comparative Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Executive excess v. judicial process: American judicial responses to the government's war on terror
    13:3, p. 787 - 823 2003
  • Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law
    Kelly Michael J., Cheating justice by cheating death
    20:3, p. 491 - 532 2003
  • Washington University Global Studies Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., The Bush foreign policy 2001-2003
    2:1, p. 221 - 229 2003
  • Journal of Transnational Law & Policy
    Kelly Michael J., Time warp to 1945
    13:1, p. 1 - 39 2003
  • Creighton Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Understanding September 11th
    35:2, p. 283 - 293 2002
  • St. John's Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Can sovereigns be brought to justice?
    76:2, p. 257 - 378 2002
  • Central States Archaeological Journal
    Kelly Michael J., 'Kennewick' ruling a crime against science
    48:1, p. 38 - 39 2001
  • Seton Hall Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., U.N. Security Council permanent membership
    31:2, p. 319 - 399 2000
  • Journal of International Law and Practice
    Kelly Michael J., Case studies 'ripe' for the International Criminal Court
    8:1, p. 21 - 45 1999
  • University of Hawaii Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., A skeleton in the legal closet
    21:1, p. 42 - 72 1999
  • South Texas Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Traveling the road to Rambouillet
    40:3, p. 789 - 810 1999
  • Drake Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Political downsizing
    47:2, p. 209 - 278 1999
  • Georgetown International Environmental Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Overcoming obstacles to the effective implementation of international environmental agreements
    9:2, p. 447 - 488 1997
  • Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review
    Martin Joyce M., Kelly Michael J., Electronic environmental permitting
    23:3, p. 547 - 565 1996
  • Pepperdine Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Bringing a complaint under the NAFTA Environmental Side Accord
    24:1, p. 71 - 97 1996
  • Dickinson Journal of International Law
    Kelly Michael J., Conflicting trends in the flourishing international trade of art and antiquities
    14:1, p. 31 - 55 1995
  • Journal of Products and Toxics Liability
    Kelly Michael J., Computer generated evidence as a witness beyond cross-examination
    17:2, p. 95 - 115 1995
  • Indiana International & Comparative Law Review
    Kelly Michael J., Environmental implications of the North American Free Trade Agreement
    3:2, p. 361 - 389 1993

Presentations

  • International Law Governing Transnational Disasters, Fourth Biennial Four Societies Conference, Boalt Hall, Berkeley, California (September 2012), co-sponsored by the American, Japanese, Canadian and Australian/New Zealand Societies of International Law. 2012
  • "The Status of Victims under the Rome Statute of the ICC", at Phillips University, Marburg Germany conference on victims' rights 2011
  • "Legal Issues Concerning the Trial of Adolf Eichmann" Joint CLE discussion with Justice Gabriel Bach at Kutak Rock law firm 2011
  • "The New Constitutionalism in Iraq and Kurdistan: Presidential Power versus Prime Ministerial Power" with Jens Meierhenrich (LSE) at Suleymaneyah, Iraq PUK party headquarters conference 2011
  • "Creighton's Report on Property Claims in Cuba" (Barcelona, Spain) presentation to the Catalan Bank, Praedium LLC, and 1898 Cuba Group on Creighton's findings and the adaptability of our report to the Spanish situation 2010
  • "The Development of a New 'Lawfare' Paradigm in Law and Policy" (Cleveland, OH) Moderator for panel at Lawfare! Conference, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 2010
  • "Corporate Liability for Genocide" paper presented at Third Biennial Four Societies Conference, Awaji Island, Japan (August 2010), co-sponsored by the American, Japanese, Canadian and Australian/New Zealand Societies of International Law. 2010
  • "The Historical Development of Native American Law" (Lincoln, NE) Lecture for the Nebraska State Bar Foundation to 100 Nebraska high school history teachers 2010
  • "Commemoration of the Children's Massacre" at Halabja, Iraq memorial service; remarks on behalf of AIDP supporting investigation into historical atrocities committed by the regime of Saddam Hussein and prosecution of the perpetrators 2010
  • "Use of the Command Responsibility Doctrine to Prosecute Corporations for Genocide" (Atlanta, GA) Emory Law School symposium on international criminal law 2010
  • "Property Rights in the Context of Lifting the U.S. Embargo Against Cuba" (Washington DC) Testimony before the House Ways & Means Committee 2010
  • "Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Development Process" (Washington D.C.) Brookings Institution Conference on the development of a new crimes against humanity treaty 2010