John H. Jackson (1932–2015)

Abstract

It is with the deepest regret that the Journal records the passing of John Jackson—teacher, scholar, contributor to this Journal and longtime member of its editorial board, and pioneer of international trade and economic law. The following is a tribute to John in recognition of his immense contribution to international law.In 1969, World Trade and the Law of GATT was published. In some sense, this was the beginning of what is known today as international trade law. Based on meticulous research into documents of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which hitherto had barely seen the light of day and certainly not the eyes of scholars, the work was to be”pragmatic” and designed to address the “intricate complexity” of the law of GATT and to be of use to “the government or GATT official, the private attorney and the legal scholar.” The scale was ambitious but characteristically expressed in modest terms.