CUSLI 2012 Conference: Henry T. King Award Presentation to Sidney I. Picker

by Keith Edmund White

The 2012 Henry T. King award was presented to Sidney I. Picker, Professor Emeritus of Case Western Reserve University and founder of the Canada-United States Law Institute (CUSLI).  Professor Lewis Katz, Case Western Reserve University's LLM in U.S. and Global Legal Studies Program Director, accepted the award on behalf of Picker and delivered remarks on his behalf.

"How nice to get an award from one's own imagination, years later."

Professor Lewis Katz delivered warm words of congratulations, shared the history of CUSLI to a new generations, and pushes CUSLI to remain as meaningful in the 21st century as the 20th century as we accepted the Henry T. King Award on behalf of Sidney Picker.  The award 

Among some of the many highlights of Katz's speech, was reminding the audience of Sidney Picker's numerous accomplishments:

• Picker founded CUSLI after being asked to set up two presentations for the American Society of International Law in 1973 and 1974.  Picker focused both events on the Canadian-American relationship, and from that saw the need for a organization dedicated to exploring this relationship.
• Picker guided Case Western's highly regarded international law journal during its infancy. 
• Picker was instrumental to bringing former Nuremberg prosecutor, international trade lawyer, chief counsel for the Marshall Plan, and leader in bringing Canada and the United States closer together to Case Western Reserve University, first as an adjunct professor and then full professor.
•  Most importantly, during his 30 plus years as a professor, Picker would spend 20 minutes to 12 hours with his students to help them both understand materials and guide them in their future careers.

In conclusion, Professor Katz brought a message from Sidney:  

He [Picker] does not think CUSLI should replicate what he did when he was its director.  It was created in 1975 to add. Issues as seen then, he is happy to pass the torch to a new generation of CUSLI to develop any programs that are appropriate for more modern times.  He prods the two law schools and the advisory board to serve as that new new generation of caretakers [to keep CUSLI as relevant today as it was throughout the 20th century]. 

All in all, an excellent speech--especially for someone "who doesn't, and still doesn't, believe in international law."

Finally, for those who wish to further support Henry T. King's vision of strengthened ties between Canada and the United States, please email cusli@case.edu about supporting the Henry T. King Endowment that is currently providing financial support for American law students in work in Canadian legal positions.