Professor Morse Hyun–Myung Tan

PROFESSOR MORSE HYUN–MYUNG TAN

Academic Employment

Northern Illinois University College of Law  Full Professor of Law (2016-present)  Associate Professor of Law (summer, 2011-present)  Named a Finalist for a U.S. Supreme Court Fellowship.

Florida Coastal School of Law  Associate Professor of Law (2009-2011)  Assistant Professor of Law (2008-9)

The University of St. Thomas School of Law (MN)  Visiting Professor of Law (2006-2008)

The University of Texas at Austin Law School  Visiting Scholar and Senior Research Fellow (2004-7)

Handong International Law School, Pohang, Korea (1st American JD program in Asia)  Founding Assistant Professor of Law (2002-2004)

Legal Work

Morse Tan, Attorney and Counselor at Law (2005-present)

Vice President & Legal Counsel (2001-6); Member (2001-Present) at SAM2 Technologies, LLC, Austin, Texas  formed this Limited Liability Company (LLC) & wrote the Operating Agreement.

Associate, Ross & Hardies, which became McGuireWoods (2001-2)  evaluated the merits of a potential merger, consolidation or major asset transfer between AAN and CNS, the two largest neurosurgery organizations.

Certified Mediator, Center for Conflict Resolution (2000-1)  served as a certified mediator for court referred and Center mediations.

Publications

North Korea, International Law and the Dual Crises: Narrative and Constructive Engagement (book published by Routledge Press, April 2015)  Around ninety libraries have it, such as: Harvard, Stanford, the Library of Congress, McGill, the National Library of Australia, and the Shanghai Library David Scheffer, Mayer Brown; Robert A. Helman Professor of Law, Center for International Human Rights Northwestern University School of Law wrote in reviewing this book:  “This is the most comprehensive scholarly book on the subject now and Prof. Tan undoubtedly will gain considerable exposure and prominence in both the legal and political science academies and in diplomatic and media circles…That will be of enormous credit to Northern Illinois University College of Law and to the university at large. I strong[ly] endorse the value of its scholarship, its sourcing, and its role in building the foundation….” James A.R. Nafziger, Thomas B. Stoel Professor of Law, Director of International Programs, Willamette University College of Law wrote in reviewing this book:  “Professor Tan’s research is impressive, given the dearth, if not inaccessibility, of even basic information from such a hermetically closed system. Professor Tan’s book offers a wealth of information and analysis about the world’s leading sovereign outlier.”

 “International Humanitarian Law and North Korea: Another Angle for Accountability”, 98 Marquette Law Review 3 (Spring 2015). Gregory W. Bowman, West Virginia University College of Law Professor wrote in reviewing the Marquette Law Review article:  "It is very clear that Professor Tan is deeply and expertly versed in his subject…” Jordan J. Paust, University of Houston Law Center Professor wrote in reviewing this article:  “I have no doubt that when future scholars address applicability of the laws of war to the Korean conflict, Professor Tan’s article will be influential.”

 “Finding a Forum for North Korea” 65 SMU Law Review 4 (lead article, Fall 2012)  Cited by the Northwestern University Journal of International Human Rights

 “A State of Rightlessness: the Egregious Case of North Korea” 80 Mississippi Law Journal 20 (Winter 2010)  Cited by the Fordham International Law Journal and the Yonsei Law Journal (Yonsei is one of the top universities in S. Korea)

 "The North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Past Failures and Present Solutions" 50 St. Louis University Law Journal 2 (Winter 2006)  cited by 8, including the Journal of Transnational Law and Policy (Iowa), and the Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Journal 2

 “A State of Rightlessness: The Egregious Case of North Korea” chapter in the book International Law, Conventions and Justice, edited by Prof. David Frenkel, LLD. (September, 2011)

 "Upholding Human Rights in the Hemisphere: Casting Down Impunity Through the Inter-American Court of Human Rights" 43 Texas International Law Journal 2 (Spring 2008)  Cited by 15, including the Cornell International Law Journal and the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law Ariel Dulitzky, University of Texas School of Law Professor and Former Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights wrote in review of the TILJ article:  “Morse Tan’s article is an important contribution and…filled a void in the scholarly literature regarding compliance theory and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights…Since his seminal work, several authors have written on the topic, some of them relying on Morse’s writings.” William M. Tabb, University of Oklahoma College of Law Professor wrote in review:  “Professor Tan demonstrates a solid understanding of the existing scholarly literature in the field of international human rights and the specific research pertaining to the IACHR."

 The Jurisprudential Underpinnings of Law, Especially International Law: the Basis for True Progress & Reform 2 Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy 1 (lead article)(Fall, 2005)

 Advancing Civil Rights, the Next Generation: the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 and Beyond published in 19 Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine 1 (Winter 2009)  cited by 15, such as the Journal of Neural Transmission, Perspectives on Genetic Discrimination (book), and the Annals of Health Law.

Works in Progress

 Compliance, Culture and Crisis: the Inter-American Court of Human Rights at the Crossroads (book in progress)  The Good Lawyer (book in progress)

 Hugo Grotius (book in progress)  “Refusing Refugees: the Plight of North Koreans in Flight” (article in progress and currently under submission)  “The North Korean Proliferation Threat” (article in progress)  “Constructive Approaches and Proposed Solutions for North Korea” (article in progress)

 “Jerusalem of the East No More: the Cry for Religious Liberty in North Korea” (article in progress)  “The Doctrines of International Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect: North Korea Clears The Bar” (article in progress)  “China: the Key to Unlocking the North Korean Puzzle?” (article in progress)

Recent Teaching

North Korea Seminar:  Spring ’14 (overload enrollment for a seminar at 17) and ‘16; students told me that registration opened at 7am and that it had a waiting list at 7:06 am.

International Criminal Law (taught twice)  Comments from student evaluations include:  “Awesome Lecturer; best lecturer here; Tan is the hidden gem of the law school”; “He knows everything without even using notes; Always answers emails”

International Human Rights (taught five times)

Public International Law (taught six times)  Students comments in evaluations have included: “Professor Tan speaks passionately about the subject matter, and is genuinely concerned with ensuring students learn the material and are able to apply the knowledge to realistic scenarios.”

Bioethics Seminar (taught twice)

Jurisprudence

Constitutional Law I (both sections, Spring ’16)

Independent Study: I have supervised approximately 6-9 of these studies

Committee Work, Service and Activities

 University Council (2016 for a two year term)  Faculty Advisor, International Law Certificate (2013-present)  Appointments Committee (2013-present, chair 2015)  Budget Committee (2012-13, 2014-Present)  Faculty Development Committee (2012-13)  Strategic Planning Committee (2011-12, 2015-16)  External Relations Committee (2011-12)  NIU College of Law Promotion and Tenure Committee (2016-present)  Jessup International Moot Court Coaching (2011-14, head coach 2015)

o One Jessup team had the highest raw scores of any team in the region.  IAPP India Steering Committee (2011-12) (University Committee)  Areas of Excellence Working Group (International Law Initiatives) (2012-13)  AALS Representative for the COL (2015)  Host Committee for the American Society of International Law’s Conference at Northwestern University School of Law (2014)  SEAL’s (the Southeastern Association of Law Schools) International Law Committee (2013-present)  Moot Court Judge, Northwestern University School of Law’s Miner Moot Court, (2012)  Northwestern University Alumni Board Member for Austin, TX chapter  Alumnus interviewer, Northwestern University School of Law’s admissions  Certified mediator, American Medical Association’s Institute of Ethics  UN Development Programme  American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Selected Media

 Wrote two articles featured in the National Law Journal  Primary source for United Press International (UPI) article  Wrote Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article  The book on North Korea has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Herald, Patch Network, American Towns, My Suburban Life and Social Media News.  Wrote two articles in the Jurist on Syria.  Interviewed with Radio Free Asia, WGN, and Channel 4 News

Selected Presentations, Review Work, and Additional Service

 “North Korea: Jerusalem of the East No More” at a Pan-African conference of attorneys in Capetown, South Africa, August 2015.  “Freedom of Conscience” roundtable with Prof. Andrew Koppelman, Northwestern University, Prof. Robin Fretwell Wilson, University of Illinois and others, Denver, Colorado, July 2015.  Guest Speaker for Koinonia House, an outreach to former, current, and future prisoners as well as their families, July 2015.  Guest Lecturer for two medical ethics classes, the University of Illinois Medical School, Spring 2015 and Spring 2016.  “Dilemmas and Difficulties in Thoroughly Corrupt Societies” and “The North Korean Human Rights Crisis”, at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools, Amelia Island, Florida, August 2014.  “Syrian Humanitarian Crisis from an International Legal Perspective”, presented with Professors Rosado and Brown, Chicago-Kent College of Law; Professors

Ward and Kelleman, DePaul University College of Law; Chicago-Kent Law School, November 2013.  “The International Criminal Court: Is the World Better Off?”, debate with Professor Eugene Kontorovich, Northwestern University Law School, held at Northern Illinois University College of Law, March 2013.  A presentation regarding the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, scheduled for late October, 2012 at Valparaiso Law School.  “The Human Rights Crisis in North Korea”, sponsored by NIU College of Law Amnesty International Chapter, 2012.  “Finding a Forum for North Korea,” presented at the Central States Law Schools' Association annual conference, 2011.  “The Legal Status of Drone Attacks” as a respondent to Prof. Turner of the U. of Virginia, 2011, sponsored by the NIU College of Law Federalist Society.  “A State of Rightlessness: the Egregious Case of North Korea”, presented in Athens, Greece at the Athens Institute for Education and Research Law Conference, 2010  Reviewer for the Human Rights Journal, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, 2010  “Compliance Theory and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights”, presented at Queens University Law School in Canada, 2007  Expert Witness on a case, 2015  Reviewer for the International Negotiation Journal, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, 2007  Reviewer for the American Journal of Comparative Law (the #1 journal of comparative law), 2015  Guest Speaker, Cornell Law School, University of Wisconsin Law School, and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

Education

 J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 2001.  M.A., Wheaton Graduate School, 1998.  B.A., Wheaton College, 1997.

Bar Admissions and Memberships

 Member, the American Society of International Law  Admitted, the Illinois Bar  Admitted, the U.S. Supreme Court Bar  Emerging Leader Member, Chicago Council of Global Affairs  Presidential Level Member, Chicago Council of Global Affairs

Languages and Travel

 Languages: Spanish: fluent; Korean: fluent; Latin: working knowledge; Portuguese: can comprehend; French: basic; Chinese: very basic  Travel: Around 30 countries and almost every one of the United States