Dr. Brian L. Cox is an adjunct professor of law at Cornell Law School, a graduate research fellow with the Centre for International and Defence Policy at Queen’s University, and a master of journalism student at Carleton University.

Brian retired from the U.S. Army in 2018 after 22 years of service as an airborne infantry solider, combat camera operator, airborne infantry officer, and for the last seven years as a military lawyer. His combat deployments include Iraq from 2003-04 as a combat camera operator and Afghanistan from 2013-14 as an operational law attorney and then the Chief of International and Operational Law for Regional Command-East. Brian also served as a military prosecutor, federal prosecutor, brigade judge advocate, administrative law attorney, legal assistance attorney, and military magistrate while he was a judge advocate. His military awards, decorations, and qualifications include the Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, NATO Medal, Basic and Advanced Collateral Damage Estimation Certification, Weapons Law and the Legal Review of Weapons Certification, Joint Firepower Certification, Joint Intermediate Target Development Certification, Intelligence Law Certification, and Special Victim Unit Investigator Certification.

The presentation will explore how the language of international law has been distorted to generate political pressure for partners and allies to limit diplomatic and security cooperation with Israel in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks. The discussion will also examine how international law rhetoric has, in turn, influenced political messaging and contributed to a discernible rise in antisemitism in Canada and beyond.