WASHINGTON — In a case watched closely by human rights groups and business organizations alike, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday struggled to decide when foreigners can use U.S. courts to litigate over foreign violations of international law.
Some justices seemed inclined to favor at least a limited right to bring such suits, while others saw the litigation as “serious interference with the political branches to conduct foreign affairs,” as Justice Antonin Scalia put it. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor repeatedly voiced the wish that Congress would take care of the situation through new legislation.
