J.P. (James) Sexton LLM
- Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
- Room number: 9.25
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Postbus 15544
1001 NA Amsterdam
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Overview
James Patrick Sexton is a PhD researcher in public international law at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and the University of Amsterdam. At the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, James is a member of the research strand: 'In the Public Interest: Accountability of the State and the Prosecution of Crimes'. At the University of Amsterdam, James is a research fellow at the Amsterdam Center for Criminal Justice (ACCJ). In addition, James is the Managing Editor for the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law.
James holds an LL.M. in Public International Law (cum laude) from Leiden University (2021) and an LL.B. in Scots Law (first-class honours) from the University of Glasgow (2020), the latter of which included a year of study at the University of Copenhagen (2018-2019). Prior to his current role at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut, James contributed to several projects within the context of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) as a junior researcher. Before this, he was a legal intern on the MATRA Project 'Strengthening Ukraine's Capacity to Investigate and Prosecute International Crimes' and was the editorial assistant for the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law.
James also previously worked at the Kalshoven-Gieskes Forum’s International Humanitarian Law Clinic, first as a student researcher and then as a junior supervisor. In these capacities, James contributed to the research project 'IHL in Action: Respect for the Law on the Battlefield' carried out in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
James' PhD research addresses the relationship between sanctions (e.g., asset freezes; entry bans) and international criminal justice. In particular, his research project analyses the use of targeted sanctions against individuals and entities allegedly responsible for international crimes, with a specific focus on 'Magnitsky-style' sanctions regimes. James' wider research interests lie within the law of armed conflict, international criminal law, unilateral sanctions, and the (international) legal aspects of countering terrorism.
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Publications
2026
- Krieger, H., Kalmanovitz, P., Lieblich, E., & Sexton, J. P. (Eds.) (2026). Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, Volume 27, 2024: International Humanitarian Law under Pressure. Asser Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-727-4
2025
- van Ark, R. M., Gherbaoui, T., & Sexton, J. P. (Eds.) (2025). Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Public Interest. T.M.C. Asser Press/Springer.
2023
Sexton, J. P., Beurret, F., & O'Regan, N. (2023). Year in Review 2021. In H. Krieger, P. Kalmanovitz, E. Lieblich, & R. Mignot-Mahdavi (Eds.), Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, Volume 24 (2021): Cultures of International Humanitarian Law (pp. 193-277). Asser Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-559-1_8 [details]
2022
- Kerr, V., & Sexton, J. P. (2022). Unpacking the elusive nature of Magnitsky sanctions: human rights and security considerations. In A. Di Stefano, F. Paddeu, & C. Titi (Eds.), European Society of International Law (ESIL) Papers (pp. 1-26). (European Society of International Law (ESIL) Papers; No. 2022/17). European University Institute. https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/75027
- Sexton, J. P. (2022). How does the obligation to investigate alleged serious violations of international humanitarian law apply in ad hoc military coalitions? Revue de Droit Militaire et de Droit de la Guerre = The Military Law and Law of War Review, 60(2), 188-217. https://doi.org/10.4337/mllwr.2022.02.04 [details]
- Sexton, J. P. (2022). [Review of: H. Krieger, J. Püschmann (2021) Law-Making and Legitimacy in International Humanitarian Law]. Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies, 13(1), 181-185. https://doi.org/10.1163/18781527-bja10047 [details]
2020
- Sexton, J. P. (2020). An Opportunity for Pre-Emption: Exploring the Legal Vacuum Occupied by Those Internally Displaced by Slow-Onset Climate Change. Trinity College Law Review, 23, 87-107. https://m.heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/trinclr23&div=8&id=&page=
2026
- Krieger, H., Kalmanovitz, P., Lieblich, E., & Sexton, J. P. (2026). Preface: Editorial. In H. Krieger, P. Kalmanovitz, E. Lieblich, & J. P. Sexton (Eds.), Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, Volume 27, 2024: International Humanitarian Law under Pressure (pp. vii-xi). Asser Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-727-4
2025
- Sexton, J. P. (2025). Sanctions against Israel: An International Law Perspective. Web publication or website, Just Security. https://www.justsecurity.org/120757/sanctions-against-israel-an-international-law-perspective/
2024
- Sexton, J. P., & Kerr, V. (2024). EU Support to Ukraine through Windfall Profits: Reparative Value, International Law, and Future Pathways. Web publication or website, Articles of War - Lieber Institute. https://lieber.westpoint.edu/eu-support-ukraine-windfall-profits-reparative-value-international-law-future-pathways/ [details]
2023
- Sexton, J. P. (2023). The Anti-ISIL Coalition, Civilian Harm, and the Obligation to Investigate. Web publication or website, Articles of War - Lieber Institute. https://lieber.westpoint.edu/anti-isil-coalition-civilian-harm-obligation-investigate/ [details]
- Sexton, J. P., & Kinnecome, D. (2023). Enforcing Sanctions Violations to Fund the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Web publication or website, EJIL: Talk!. https://www.ejiltalk.org/enforcing-sanctions-violations-to-fund-the-reconstruction-of-ukraine/ [details]
2022
- Sexton, J. P. (2022). The European Union’s Sanctioning of Russian Military Officers: An Urge for Caution. Web publication or website, EJIL: Talk!. https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-european-unions-sanctioning-of-russian-military-officers-an-urge-for-caution/ [details]
2021
- Sexton, J. P. (Author), Baars, L. (Author), de Boer, V. (Author), López Antezana, R. (Author), & Weck, N. (Author). (2021). In for a penny, in for a pound? The lack of ICC funding for situations referred by the Security Council. Web publication or website, Leiden Law School. https://www.leidenlawblog.nl/articles/in-for-a-penny-in-for-a-pound-the-lack-of-icc-funding-for-situations-referred-by-the-security-council
Media appearance
- Sexton, J. (07-02-2025). 'Existential threat': What next for the ICC after US sanctions? [Web] France 24. 'Existential threat': What next for the ICC after US sanctions?. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250207-existential-threat-what-next-for-the-icc-after-us-sanctions
Journal editor
- Sexton, J. (editor) (2024-2028). Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law (Journal).
Talk / presentation
- Sexton, J. (speaker) (4-7-2025). Sanctions, Reparations, and Financial Complicity in International Crimes in Ukraine and Palestine: Opportunities, Dangers, and Hard Questions, Financial Complicity in International Crimes: Gaps and Ways Forward, Den Haag.
- Sexton, J. (speaker) (7-11-2024). The European Union's Approach to Russian Central Bank Assets Frozen by Sanctions, Compensation for Survivors of Aggression in Ukraine, International Mechanisms and Other Justice Avenues, Den Haag. https://ukrainelegalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25.02-Capacity-Building-Training-Report.pdf
- Sexton, J. (speaker) (29-8-2024). The European Union's Restrictive Measures and International Criminal Justice: Friend or Foe?, DynamInt Doctoral Conference 2024, Amsterdam.
- Sexton, J. (speaker), Siampakou, N. (speaker), Kinnecome, D. (speaker) & Baumann, Z. (speaker) (15-5-2024). Sanctions and the Pursuit of Accountability for International Crimes: Critical Reflections, Sanctions, Remittances, and (in)Security: Legal Conundrums, Financial Paradoxes, and Humanitarian Puzzles, Den Haag.
- Sexton, J. (speaker) (28-9-2023). Panel: About Victims of War - Reparations for War Crimes Committed, World for Ukraine Summit, Rzeszów.
Others
- Sexton, J. (organiser) (9-9-2025). Fifteen years of review: The Office of the Ombudsperson to the UN Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee (organising a conference, workshop, ...). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWo5rjKFu_M
- Sexton, J. (participant) & Hoye, M. (organiser) (15-5-2024). Sanctions, Remittances, and (in)Security: Legal Conundrums, Financial Paradoxes, and Humanitarian Puzzles, Den Haag. Long hindered by tired and unproductive debates in international relations, sanctions scholarship is presently flourishing with novel and generative (…) (participating in a conference, workshop, ...).
- van Ark, R. (organiser), Gherbaoui, T. (organiser) & Sexton, J. (organiser) (31-10-2023). Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Public Interest. The workshop was organized within the research agenda themes and priorities set under the Annual Strategic Research Agenda (ASRA) of the Asser (…) (organising a conference, workshop, ...).
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Ancillary activities
No ancillary activities
Sexton, J. P., Beurret, F., & O'Regan, N. (2023). Year in Review 2021. In H. Krieger, P. Kalmanovitz, E. Lieblich, & R. Mignot-Mahdavi (Eds.), Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, Volume 24 (2021): Cultures of International Humanitarian Law (pp. 193-277). Asser Press.