Vijay Padmanabhan
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2008–2010

B.S., 1999, Georgetown University;
J.D., 2002, New York University

First taught at Cardozo: 2008
Specialties: International law and human rights

Courses: Law of War and Contemporary Conflicts; International Law Directed Reading Group; International Human Rights

After graduating at the top of his class from Georgetown University, Vijay Padmanabhan received his J.D. magna cum laude from New York University, where he was associate editor of the law review. After law school, he clerked for Judge James L. Dennis, US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. From 2003 to 2008, he was an attorney-adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the US Department of State, where he received superior honor awards in 2006 and 2007. He was the department’s chief counsel on Guantanamo and Iraq detainee litigation, as well as other litigation implicating the law of war, collaborating with the Departments of Justice and Defense on all aspects of the Supreme Court litigation in Hamden, Boumediene, and Munaf/Omar. Professor Padmanabhan also served as the Legal Adviser’s press officer. He began his stint at the State Department as an attorney-adviser for the International Claims and Investment Disputes section.