Center for Justice and Accountability records, 1945-2015, bulk 1972-2015

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Summary

Creator:
Human Rights Archive (Duke University), Center for Justice and Accountability, Eisenbrandt, Matt, 1975-, Roberts, Shawn, and Sondheimer, Joshua, 1963-
Abstract:
Founded in 1998, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) is a non-profit organization that primarily utilizes civil litigation against perpetrators of international human rights abuses. The CJA records span the dates 1945-2015, with most materials dating from 1972-2015, and consist of extensive case files, amicus briefs, research materials, a small amount of press clippings, CJA newsletters and annual reports, and audiovisual materials and electronic records related to cases or to research. Attorneys who frequently appear in case file materials include: Matthew Eisenbrandt, Shawn Roberts, and Joshua Sondheimer. Acquired as part of the Human Rights Archive at Duke University.
Extent:
60 Linear Feet (119 boxes)
4 Megabytes (20 files)
Language:
English
French
Spanish; Castilian
Somali
Collection ID:
RL.11941

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) span the years 1945-2015, with the bulk of the materials dating from the 1970s to 2015. The materials document litigation activities of the CJA against international instances of human rights violations.

There are four main series. The Case Files series — the largest in the collection — is divided into subseries for individual cases litigated by the CJA. These files typically contain court records, drafts of documents, exhibits, discovery materials, clippings, and court, trial, and deposition transcripts. Files also include research related to individual cases, including country-specific research and evidentiary materials. Case files concern human rights crimes that occurred in the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China, El Salvador, Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Liberia, Somalia, and Timor-Leste. Attorneys who frequently appear in case files include: Matthew Eisenbrandt, Shawn Roberts, and Joshua Sondheimer.

The Amicus Briefs series contains amicus curiae briefs written or signed by the CJA to support other human rights cases. Journal and newspaper clippings covering the CJA's practice are contained within the Press Clippings series. The Research series primarily comprises regional background information supporting CJA's legal arguments against human rights crimes across the globe. Finally, a small administrative files series contains a few items of correspondence, annual reports, newsletters, and promotional materials.

Most series include associated audiovisual recordings and electronic files; formats include 45 videocassettes, 24 CDs, and a handful of DVDs, audiocassette tapes, and 3.5" floppy disks. The audiovisual materials primarily include court and deposition recordings and transcripts, news coverage, and short documentaries. Electronic files typically include transcripts, memo drafts, and other documents.

Materials are chiefly in English, but some materials are in Spanish or French; there are many documents in the Somali language in the Yousuf v. Samantar case and in the Somalia Investigation Archive (Research series).

Materials in this collection may include firsthand accounts, descriptions, and images of torture and other violent acts.

Biographical / historical:

Founded in 1998, the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) is a non-profit organization that primarily utilizes civil litigation against perpetrators of international human rights abuses. Their civil casework within the Human Rights Archive's collection largely relies upon the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act. Some of these cases were the first to litigate different aspects of human rights laws within United States courts.

Acquisition information:
The Center for Justice and Accountability Records were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2014 and 2022.
Processing information:

Processed and described by Eliscia Kinder and Paula Jeannet, October 2021-October 2022.

Addition processed and described by Zoe Finiasz, Paula Jeannet, and Patrick Stawski, September-October 2022.

Accession(s) described in this collection guide: 2014-0163; 2022-0097.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged into five series: Case Files, Amicus Briefs, Press Clippings, Research Files, and Administrative Files. The Case Files series is further organized by case titles in alphabetical order.

Physical facet:
(4 .mpg; 1 .pdf; 2 .txt; 13 .doc)
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access note. Collection contains audiovisual formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) records, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m12m9h