Harold Koh
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
As a young professor, Harold Koh co-founded a human rights legal clinic at Yale where students would work on cases. By November 1991, there were more than a thousand Haitian refugees held on Coast Guard boats. An official told the New York Times, this thing is coming to a boil. Then, two students walked into Harold Koh's office to ask him a question.
As a young professor, Harold Koh co-founded a human rights legal clinic at Yale where students would work on cases. By November 1991, there were more than a thousand Haitian refugees held on Coast Guard boats. An official told the New York Times, this thing is coming to a boil. Then, two students walked into Harold Koh's office to ask him a question.
They'd heard that the Coast Guard boats had gotten so full of refugees that they'd started taking people straight back to Haiti without thoroughly screening them for asylum.
They'd heard that the Coast Guard boats had gotten so full of refugees that they'd started taking people straight back to Haiti without thoroughly screening them for asylum.
A few days later, a student slipped a memo under his door, outlining potential legal arguments. Then two memos. Then six. Then Xeroxed case files and annotated law review articles. His voicemail box filled up, and more than once he came to work to find his door covered in Post-it notes.
A few days later, a student slipped a memo under his door, outlining potential legal arguments. Then two memos. Then six. Then Xeroxed case files and annotated law review articles. His voicemail box filled up, and more than once he came to work to find his door covered in Post-it notes.
Harold's father, Kwanglim Ko, had been a law professor too.
Harold's father, Kwanglim Ko, had been a law professor too.
He was accepted to Harvard Law School and became the U.S. ambassador for a new democratic government of South Korea, established after mass student protests.
He was accepted to Harvard Law School and became the U.S. ambassador for a new democratic government of South Korea, established after mass student protests.
His father put together a meeting at the Korean embassy in Washington, D.C., asking people to take an oath that they wouldn't work for the new Supreme Council of Military Leaders.
His father put together a meeting at the Korean embassy in Washington, D.C., asking people to take an oath that they wouldn't work for the new Supreme Council of Military Leaders.
The leader of the coup would stay in power for almost 20 years. A U.S. national security official helped Harold's father get a job.
The leader of the coup would stay in power for almost 20 years. A U.S. national security official helped Harold's father get a job.
Harold's parents both started teaching at Yale Law School, and less than 25 years later, Harold did the same thing. When you were first approached by the students asking you to get involved, did you think about your father?
Harold's parents both started teaching at Yale Law School, and less than 25 years later, Harold did the same thing. When you were first approached by the students asking you to get involved, did you think about your father?
And then, over spring break, Harold and the students took a train to federal court in Brooklyn and filed the case. A different lawsuit in Florida had temporarily stopped the government from taking people back to Haiti, but the Coast Guard needed somewhere to send thousands of people. What did you know about Guantanamo at the time?
And then, over spring break, Harold and the students took a train to federal court in Brooklyn and filed the case. A different lawsuit in Florida had temporarily stopped the government from taking people back to Haiti, but the Coast Guard needed somewhere to send thousands of people. What did you know about Guantanamo at the time?