Tuesday, April 20, 2010 | 9:30 PM EDT - 11:00 PM EDT

The National Committee hosted an evening of stories and reflection with Jerome Alan Cohen on Tuesday, April 20 in New York City. National Committee President Stephen A. Orlins interviewed his law school professor, mentor and friend as we celebrated Professor Cohen’s 80th birthday.

Professor Cohen is a pioneer in the field of Chinese and Asian legal studies in the United States and played an important role in the re-opening of U.S.-China relations. As the founder and director of East Asian Legal Studies at Harvard Law School from 1964-1979, Professor Cohen helped introduce East Asian legal systems and perspectives into American legal curricula. He is of counsel (retired partner) to the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and was one of the earliest foreign lawyers practicing law in modern China.

Since 1990 Professor Cohen has been with New York University Law School, where he is co-director of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute and teaches courses on Chinese criminal justice, China’s legal tradition, international business transactions, and international law. He is also an adjunct senior fellow for Asian Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

In recent years, Professor Cohen has also focused on addressing core problems in China’s criminal process and human rights policies, advising the families of a number of prominent American citizens and permanent residents who have been detained in China.

Politics & Foreign Relations

Politics & Foreign Relations

Recorded 4/20/10