Professor of Law, Dean Emeritus, Raymond I. Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law
Claudio Grossman is Professor of Law, Director of Impact Litigation and the Kovler Practicum, Dean Emeritus, and the Raymond Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law (WCL). Throughout his career, Professor Grossman has promoted the rule of law, human rights and legal education through his contributions to academia and international and domestic organizations, and has participated in landmark cases and decisions in the regional and universal system.Professor Grossman litigated in the International Court of Justice representing Chile. He was also the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and of the Committee Against Torture of the United Nations. He was the Dean at Washington College of Law from 1995-2016 and is currentlymember of the United Nations International Law Commission.
In March of 2023 Professor Grossman was elected as Vice-President of the Committee of Admissibility for Chile’s new constitution. In 2021, Professor Grossman was re-elected to serve a five-year term as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). Professor Grossman was first elected in November 2016 for a five-year term and in 2019 Chair of the ILC’s Drafting Committee for a one-year term.
In 2019, Professor Grossman was elected to L’Institut de Droit International (International Law Institute) in its session in the Hague. He previously served as member (2003-2015) and chairperson (4 terms, from 2008-2015) of the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT). On May 20, 2013, Professor Grossman was elected chair of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies for a one-year term. In May 2009, he was named to the judging panel for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, and in May 2010 he was appointed to the Center's Board of Directors. Professor Grossman served on the governing board for the International Association of Law Schools since 2008 and was reelected in 2010 for a three-year term. On January 1, 2014, Professor Grossman began serving as President of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, following three years on its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the American Law Institute.
Professor Grossman previously served as President of the College of the Americas (COLAM), an organization of about 400 colleges and universities in the Western Hemisphere (2003- 2007). He also served as Chair of the Committee on International Cooperation of the Association of American Law Schools (2005- 2009) and as a member of the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (2005- 2011). In addition, he was a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) from 1993-2001. He was twice elected its President, in 1996 and again in 2001. He was the IACHR's first Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women (1996-2000), as well as Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Populations (2000-2001) and the IACHR’s observer of the AMIA Trial (2001-2005). Representing the IACHR, Professor Grossman participated in missions to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, among others. On behalf of international and non-governmental organizations, he has also chaired or participated in missions to observe elections in Nepal, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Romania, Surinam, and the Middle East.
During Professor Grossman's 21-year tenure as dean (1995-2016), WCL further developed its intellectual creativity, pursuing numerous and exciting initiatives. More than 50 full-time faculty members were hired, dramatically improving the law school's student-faculty ratio and expanding and enhancing scholarship, teaching and service. A variety of WCL programs were developed during Professor Grossman's deanship including: dual JD Programs with universities in Canada, France, Australia, Spain and Italy, the LL.M. in Law and Government Program, the L.L.M. in Advocacy, the LLM in Intellectual Property, the Supervised Externship Program, the S.J.D. Program, a dual LL.M./MBA, LL.M. specializations in Gender and the Law and in Free Trade Agreements and Regional Integration, Online Education, and specialized summer programs in human rights and humanitarian law, international commercial arbitration, anti-corruption, health law, intellectual property, law and government, international organizations, law and diplomacy, environmental law, legal English, and legal Spanish. Also during his leadership as dean, WCL developed and expanded summer abroad programs, the International Commercial Arbitration Center, the Intellectual Property (IP) Program, clinics in IP, Disability Rights Law, and Immigrant Justice.
During Professor Grossman's tenure as dean, WCL achieved recognition as among the top 10 nationally in clinical legal education, intellectual property, international law, and trial advocacy, in addition to being one of the most diverse law schools in the country. With his leadership, WCL designed and completed its magnificent new Tenley Campus. Professor Grossman was appointed Dean Emeritus by American University's (AU) Board of Trustees in recognition of over two decades of commitmentand distinction.
Professor Grossman was recognized as one of the top 25 most influential people in legal education during his last years of service as a Dean. He has also received numerous awards for his work in human rights and international law, including the Goler T. Butcher Medal in 2020 by the American Society of International Law (ASIL), the United Nations Association of the Nations Capital’s 2020 Louis B. Sohn Award, Harry LeRoy Jones Award from the Washington Foreign Law Society and the René Cassin Award from B'nai B'rith International in Chile. In October 2000, Professor Grossman was named Outstanding Dean of the Year by the National Association of Public Interest Law (now known as Equal Justice Works). In addition, the Inter American Press Association named Professor Grossman as the recipient of the Chapultepec Grand Prize 2002 for his achievements in the field of human rights and his work and commitment to promoting and protecting the freedom of expression and of the press for all people. In 2007, Professor Grossman received the Simón Bolívar Award from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in recognition of his lifetime achievements in promoting human rights, and the Charles Norberg International Lawyer of the Year Award from the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Inter-American Bar Association. In 2009, the government of the Netherlands awarded Professor Grossman the decoration of Orange Nassau in the grade of "Commendeur." In 2010, Professor Grossman received the Henry W. Edgerton Civil Liberties Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area in recognition of exceptional lifetime achievements related to the advancement and defense of human rights and civil liberties. In 2011, he was awarded the decoration of "Orden de la Justicia" from the government of Colombia in recognition of his career. In 2012, Professor Grossman received the Deborah L. Rhode Award from the AALS Section on Pro Bono and Public Service Opportunities for his work on behalf of pro bono and public interest programs throughout the country, a Doctor Honoris Causa honorary degree from the Universidad de San Martin de Porres in Peru for his outstanding academic and professional trajectory in defending human rights, the Lifetime Leadership Award from the Hispanic National Bar Foundation, and the Leadership Award from the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association. In 2015, Professor Grossman was awarded an Honoris Causa honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Fairleigh Dickinson for his commitment to international law, human rights and education. Professor Grossman was also awarded an Honoris Causa honorary degree in 2019 from La Universidad de Valparaiso for his contribution to the cultivation and development of international law.
Professor Grossman's career includes extensive litigation experience before the Inter-American and Universal systems on the rights of persons deprived of liberty, enforced disappearances, prohibition of non-discrimination and gender, political rights, rights of the child, indigenous populations, freedom of expression, prohibition of torture, and other fundamental freedoms. Professor Grossman was involved in landmark cases establishing rights and freedoms within the Inter-American system, including Aloeboetoe et al v. Suriname, Velázquez-Rodríguez v. Honduras, AwasTingni v. Nicaragua, among others. He proposed the adoption of a General Comment on reparations by the Committee Against Torture that led to the adoption of General Comment 3 on that topic. In addition, he served as Agent for Chile in Obligation to Negotiate (Bolivia v Chile) from 2016-2018 and as Co-Agent from 2013-2016, and in 2014, as Advocate on the Case Concerning Maritime Dispute (Perú v. Chile) before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.
Professor Grossman is the author of numerous international law, international organizations, and human rights publications.
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About Claudio M. Grossman
Claudio Grossman is Professor of Law, Director of Impact Litigation and the Kovler Practicum, Dean Emeritus, and the Raymond Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law (WCL). Throughout his career, Professor Grossman has promoted the rule of law, human rights and legal education through his contributions to academia and international and domestic organizations, and has participated in landmark cases and decisions in the regional and universal system.Professor Grossman litigated in the International Court of Justice representing Chile. He was also the President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and of the Committee Against Torture of the United Nations. He was the Dean at Washington College of Law from 1995-2016 and is currentlymember of the United Nations International Law Commission.
In March of 2023 Professor Grossman was elected as Vice-President of the Committee of Admissibility for Chile’s new constitution. In 2021, Professor Grossman was re-elected to serve a five-year term as a member of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). Professor Grossman was first elected in November 2016 for a five-year term and in 2019 Chair of the ILC’s Drafting Committee for a one-year term.
In 2019, Professor Grossman was elected to L’Institut de Droit International (International Law Institute) in its session in the Hague. He previously served as member (2003-2015) and chairperson (4 terms, from 2008-2015) of the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT). On May 20, 2013, Professor Grossman was elected chair of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies for a one-year term. In May 2009, he was named to the judging panel for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, and in May 2010 he was appointed to the Center's Board of Directors. Professor Grossman served on the governing board for the International Association of Law Schools since 2008 and was reelected in 2010 for a three-year term. On January 1, 2014, Professor Grossman began serving as President of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, following three years on its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the American Law Institute.
Professor Grossman previously served as President of the College of the Americas (COLAM), an organization of about 400 colleges and universities in the Western Hemisphere (2003- 2007). He also served as Chair of the Committee on International Cooperation of the Association of American Law Schools (2005- 2009) and as a member of the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (2005- 2011). In addition, he was a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) from 1993-2001. He was twice elected its President, in 1996 and again in 2001. He was the IACHR's first Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women (1996-2000), as well as Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Populations (2000-2001) and the IACHR’s observer of the AMIA Trial (2001-2005). Representing the IACHR, Professor Grossman participated in missions to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, among others. On behalf of international and non-governmental organizations, he has also chaired or participated in missions to observe elections in Nepal, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Romania, Surinam, and the Middle East.
During Professor Grossman's 21-year tenure as dean (1995-2016), WCL further developed its intellectual creativity, pursuing numerous and exciting initiatives. More than 50 full-time faculty members were hired, dramatically improving the law school's student-faculty ratio and expanding and enhancing scholarship, teaching and service. A variety of WCL programs were developed during Professor Grossman's deanship including: dual JD Programs with universities in Canada, France, Australia, Spain and Italy, the LL.M. in Law and Government Program, the L.L.M. in Advocacy, the LLM in Intellectual Property, the Supervised Externship Program, the S.J.D. Program, a dual LL.M./MBA, LL.M. specializations in Gender and the Law and in Free Trade Agreements and Regional Integration, Online Education, and specialized summer programs in human rights and humanitarian law, international commercial arbitration, anti-corruption, health law, intellectual property, law and government, international organizations, law and diplomacy, environmental law, legal English, and legal Spanish. Also during his leadership as dean, WCL developed and expanded summer abroad programs, the International Commercial Arbitration Center, the Intellectual Property (IP) Program, clinics in IP, Disability Rights Law, and Immigrant Justice.
During Professor Grossman's tenure as dean, WCL achieved recognition as among the top 10 nationally in clinical legal education, intellectual property, international law, and trial advocacy, in addition to being one of the most diverse law schools in the country. With his leadership, WCL designed and completed its magnificent new Tenley Campus. Professor Grossman was appointed Dean Emeritus by American University's (AU) Board of Trustees in recognition of over two decades of commitmentand distinction.
Professor Grossman was recognized as one of the top 25 most influential people in legal education during his last years of service as a Dean. He has also received numerous awards for his work in human rights and international law, including the Goler T. Butcher Medal in 2020 by the American Society of International Law (ASIL), the United Nations Association of the Nations Capital’s 2020 Louis B. Sohn Award, Harry LeRoy Jones Award from the Washington Foreign Law Society and the René Cassin Award from B'nai B'rith International in Chile. In October 2000, Professor Grossman was named Outstanding Dean of the Year by the National Association of Public Interest Law (now known as Equal Justice Works). In addition, the Inter American Press Association named Professor Grossman as the recipient of the Chapultepec Grand Prize 2002 for his achievements in the field of human rights and his work and commitment to promoting and protecting the freedom of expression and of the press for all people. In 2007, Professor Grossman received the Simón Bolívar Award from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in recognition of his lifetime achievements in promoting human rights, and the Charles Norberg International Lawyer of the Year Award from the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Inter-American Bar Association. In 2009, the government of the Netherlands awarded Professor Grossman the decoration of Orange Nassau in the grade of "Commendeur." In 2010, Professor Grossman received the Henry W. Edgerton Civil Liberties Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area in recognition of exceptional lifetime achievements related to the advancement and defense of human rights and civil liberties. In 2011, he was awarded the decoration of "Orden de la Justicia" from the government of Colombia in recognition of his career. In 2012, Professor Grossman received the Deborah L. Rhode Award from the AALS Section on Pro Bono and Public Service Opportunities for his work on behalf of pro bono and public interest programs throughout the country, a Doctor Honoris Causa honorary degree from the Universidad de San Martin de Porres in Peru for his outstanding academic and professional trajectory in defending human rights, the Lifetime Leadership Award from the Hispanic National Bar Foundation, and the Leadership Award from the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association. In 2015, Professor Grossman was awarded an Honoris Causa honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Fairleigh Dickinson for his commitment to international law, human rights and education. Professor Grossman was also awarded an Honoris Causa honorary degree in 2019 from La Universidad de Valparaiso for his contribution to the cultivation and development of international law.
Professor Grossman's career includes extensive litigation experience before the Inter-American and Universal systems on the rights of persons deprived of liberty, enforced disappearances, prohibition of non-discrimination and gender, political rights, rights of the child, indigenous populations, freedom of expression, prohibition of torture, and other fundamental freedoms. Professor Grossman was involved in landmark cases establishing rights and freedoms within the Inter-American system, including Aloeboetoe et al v. Suriname, Velázquez-Rodríguez v. Honduras, AwasTingni v. Nicaragua, among others. He proposed the adoption of a General Comment on reparations by the Committee Against Torture that led to the adoption of General Comment 3 on that topic. In addition, he served as Agent for Chile in Obligation to Negotiate (Bolivia v Chile) from 2016-2018 and as Co-Agent from 2013-2016, and in 2014, as Advocate on the Case Concerning Maritime Dispute (Perú v. Chile) before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.
Professor Grossman is the author of numerous international law, international organizations, and human rights publications.
| July 2016 - Present | Dean Emeritus, American University Washington College of Law | |
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| Present | Chair (April 2008-Present), United Nations Committee against Torture | |
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| Present | Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law | |
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| Present | Raymond Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law | |
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| 1995 - 2016 | Dean, American University Washington College of Law | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Honors and Awards
- Henry W. Edgerton Civil Liberties Award from the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of the Nation's Capital (2010)
- Decoration of Orange Nassau in the grade of "Commendeur" from the government of the Netherlands (May 2009)
- Simón Bolívar Award from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in recognition of his lifetime achievements in promoting human rights (2007)
- Charles Norberg International Lawyer of the Year Award from the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Inter-American Bar Association (2007)
- Antonio Jose Irisarri Decoration in the grade of "Comendador" from the government of Guatemala for contributions to human rights (2006)
- Antonio Jose Irisarri Decoration in the grade of "Comendador" from the government of Guatem
- Extraordinary Leadership Award, Second National People of Color, Legal Scholarship Conference George Washington University Law School (2004)
Courses
- LAW-725-002 Sistema Inter-Amer de DDHH
| 1980 | Doctor in de Rechtsgeleerdheid (Doctor of the Science of Law), The University of Amsterdam | |
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| 1971 | J.D., Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, The University of Chile Law School | |
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Links
Contact Information
American University Washington College of Law
4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW
Room Y339
Phone: (202) 274-4004
Fax: (202) 274-4005
Email: