New Books in Human Rights Maria A. Sanchez, "Deference and Divergence in Regional Human Rights Courts" (Cornell UP, 2026)
Mar 20, 2026
Maria A. Sanchez, assistant professor of political science and author of Deference and Divergence in Regional Human Rights Courts, studies how regional courts balance authority and sovereignty. She discusses why courts form at political inflection points. She compares different court approaches on speech, personal integrity, and LGBTQ+ rights. She explains mechanisms that shift judicial interpretations over time.
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Regional Courts Localize Universal Rights
- Regional human rights courts translate universal human rights through regional political and cultural contexts rather than applying a single global standard.
- Maria A. Sanchez shows courts arise at critical regional inflection points, making enforcement shapeable by local politics and founding moments.
Intercourt Learning Shapes Jurisprudence
- Courts learn from each other through formal and informal channels, citing and adapting jurisprudence across regions.
- Sanchez documents staff exchanges, annual meetings, and judges citing European jurisprudence in Inter-American and African decisions.
Inter‑American Court Used Advisory Opinions Early
- The Inter-American Court used advisory opinions early to tackle atrocities like extrajudicial executions in Guatemala.
- Judges leveraged advisory jurisdiction to condemn systemic abuses and expand remedial powers beyond contentious cases.
