David Crane

David Crane holds a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University, a Masters of Arts Degree in African Studies and a Bachelor of General Studies in History, summa cum laude, from Ohio University. Professor Crane was appointed as professor of practice at Syracuse University College of Law in 2006. From 2002-2005 he was the founding Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Professor Crane was the first American since Justice Robert Jackson and Telford Taylor at Nuremberg, in 1945, to be the Chief Prosecutor of an international war crimes tribunal. Professor Crane served over 30 years in the federal government of the United States. Appointed to the Senior Executive Service of the United States in 1997, Mr. Crane has held numerous key managerial positions during his three decades of public service; among his former posts, we could mention Director of the Office of Intelligence Review.

Professor Crane is one of the leading advocates for justice in Syria. He founded the Syrian Accountability Project in 2011; he is one of the creators of the UN International, Independent, and Impartial Mechanism for Syria; and the co-author of the world famous “Caesar Report”. He recently established the Yemeni Accountability Project and is now the founding Executor Director of the Global Social Justice Practice Academy and Professor of Global Social Justice at Ohio University.

Currently Teaching

International Justice for Human Rights Violations (LAW-725R-001)

Selected Works

Co-author of the “Caesar Report,” A report into the credibility of certain evidence with regard to torture and execution of persons incarcerated by the current Syrian regime.

Areas of Specialization

• International/Comparative Law
• International Criminal Law
• International Human Rights/Humanitarian Law