USALI Faculty Director Emeritus Jerome A. Cohen nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom

U.S.-Asia Law Institute Faculty Director Emeritus Jerome A. Cohen (pictured above)

By Jessica Chin

U.S.-Asia Law Institute Faculty Director Emeritus Jerome A. Cohen has been nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, by six members of Congress. In a letter addressed to President Biden, the Congress members describe Professor Cohen as a “champion of human rights and the rule of law in East Asia.” They note that Professor Cohen has been a key player in the development of East Asia legal studies in the US, the establishment of US-China relations, and a stanch advocate for human rights in China. In addition, he was instrumental in securing the release of individuals detained by authoritarian regimes, such as CIA officer Jack Downey from a life sentence in China and democracy activist and later Taiwanese Vice President Annette Lu. Read the full letter here. President Joe Biden and his staff will make the final decision on whether to award Professor Cohen this prestigious honor.