The Statute of the International Court of Justice defines custom as follows: “international custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law”. The wording of this definition has been the source of some confusion, as custom itself is not evidence of a general practice, but rather evidenced by general practice. Unlike treaties, custom is not written. Thus, one must find evidence of custom in other sources, which establish a "general practice accepted as law". See Wolfke, Karol. Custom in Present International Law. 2nd rev. ed. Dordrecht; Boston: M. Nijhoff Publishers; Norwell, MA, USA: (1993), 6 & 169 KZ3405 .P6W6 C87 1993
There are two components of custom: an objective part (consistent practice) and a subjective part ("opinio juris" or sense of obligation). See George Washington International Law Review, Guide to International Legal Research (LexisNexis, 2017) ("GW Guide"), I-8 to I-12. K85 .G85 also available via Lexis.
As customary law is not written, the researcher’s goal is to find evidence of custom. Evidence of custom can be found in the records of a state’s foreign relations and diplomatic practice, compiled state papers or diplomatic archives, such as the Foreign Relations of the United States. It can also be found in a state’s internal legislation (i.e. session laws, gazettes, statutory compilations) concerning its international obligations. Evidence of custom may also be found in resolutions, declarations and legislative acts of intergovernmental organizations as recorded in yearbooks such as the United Nations Juridical Yearbook.
International practices are often documented in international law digests, collections of state papers and the official publications of national governments and international organizations. See Williams, John W., Research Tips in International Law, 20 Geo. Wash. J. Int’l L. & Econ. 1, 8 (1986). KZ 3 .W55 1981
Per the International Law Commission, the following six sources may contain evidence of custom
1) Treaties;
2) Decisions of National Courts and International Tribunals;
3) National Legislation;
4) Diplomatic Correspondence;
5) Opinions of National Legal Advisors; and,
6) The Practice of International Organizations.
Examples of U.S. practice in international law can be found in the following sources:
Restatement of the Law, Third : the Foreign Relations Law of the United States KF4651 .Am35 3d published by the American Law Institute and is also available via Westlaw (Home > Secondary Sources > Restatements & Principles of the Law). The Restatement is often cited in federal decisions having an extraterritorial impact and is highly regarded by judges and legal scholars. It is a "key resource concerning the U.S. incorporation of international law". GW Guide to International Legal Research, Sec. 1.02[1] at p. 8. According to the Restatement, customary international law is “the sense of legal obligation that States generally and consistently follow.” GW Guide, Sec. 1.03[3][a], I-9 (citing Sec. 102 of the Restatement) in print K85 .G85 or via Lexis.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS)
The Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) and Digest of United States Practice in International Law are both State Department publications. United States. Dept. of State. It should be noted that the FRUS is a historical record of the foreign policy of the U.S.; per the State Department website, it is the “official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity.” FRUS is also available via HeinOnline's FRUS Library.
Digest of United States Practice in International Law. KZ21 .D54
The Digest of the U.S. Practice in International Law dates back to 1886 but it ceased publication from 1989 to 1999 and then restarted in 2000. Per the State Department website, "the Office of the Legal Adviser publishes the annual Digest of United States Practice in International Law to provide the public with a historical record of the views and practice of the Government of the United States in public and private international law." It contains all types of documentary sources including treaties, executive agreements, legislation, regulations, federal court decisions, congressional statements and diplomatic internal memoranda. Materials are divided into chapters which cover topics from nationality to terrorism.
Yearbooks provide surveys of State practice by treaty and international activities. They may also provide information on national case law involving questions of international law or national legislation concerning matters of international law. Many are available via HeinOnline's Foreign & International Law Resources Database. If you have difficulty finding an article from a yearbook, use the tools discussed under the Law Review Articles tab of this LibGuide.
For more information, see the following:
Hoffman, Marci. International & Foreign Legal Research Researching Customary International Law and Generally Recognized Principles Spring 2007
Sahl, Silke. Researching Customary International Law, State Practice and the Pronouncements of States regarding International Law (published June/July 2007)
Ralph Gaebler and Maria Smolka-Day (eds.) Sources of State Practice in International Law Ardsley, N.Y. : Transnational Publishers, 2001. KZ64 .S67 2001
