Department of State Announces Online Publication of 2021 Digest of United States Practice in International Law

The Department of State is pleased to announce the publication of the 2021 Digest of American Practice in International Law, covering developments during the 2021 calendar year. Edited by the Office of General Counsel, the Digest provides the public with a account of the opinions and practice of the United States government in public and private international law. The official edition of the Digest 2021 is available exclusively on the Department of State website at: https://www.state.gov/digest-of-united-states-practice-in-international-law/. Past summaries covering 1989 to 2020 are also available online.

The Digest traces its history to an 1877 treatise by John Cadwalader, which was followed by multi-volume encyclopedias covering selected areas of international law. The Digest later became known as “Whiteman’s” after Marjorie Whiteman, the editor from 1963 to 1971. From 1973, the Office of Legal Counsel published the Digest on an annual basis, putting the focus on developments during the year. Although publication was temporarily suspended after 1988, the Office of the Legal Counsel resumed publication in 2000 and has since produced volumes spanning from 1989 to 2020.