Full Professor
Canada Research Chair in Cosmopolitan Law and Justice
3674 Peel Street
Room 201
Montreal, Quebec
Canada H3A 1W9
evan.fox-decent [at] mcgill.ca (Email)
Watch: (06:06) - CBC News, Oct 5, 2018
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Download: Curriculum vitae & publications list [.doc] (February 2020)
Focus online: (Dec. 2010)
Biography
Evan Fox-Decent teaches and publishes in legal theory, political theory, private law, public law, and international law. He was named Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Cosmopolitan Law and Justice in October 2019.
In 2012, Professor Fox-Decent's book,, was shortlisted by the Canadian Political Science Association for its tenth C.B. Macpherson Prize for best book published in English or French related to political theory.
In 2016, he published a monograph with Evan J. Criddle on (OUP, 2016), and in 2018, he co-edited a book on (CUP, 2018).
Professor Fox-Decent is happy to supervise students working on legal theory, issues at the intersection of legal theory and political theory orphilosophy, or early modern legal history. He is currently working on a SSHRC-supported project, The Cosmopolitan Justice of International Law.
Education
- PhD in Philosophy, 2004, University of Toronto (1995-1996, 1999-2004) (Dissertation: “Sovereignty’s Promise: The State as Fiduciary”)
- Juris Doctor, 2000 (with honours), University of Toronto (1994-1996, 1999-2000)
- Master of Arts (with distinction), University of Manitoba (1991-1993) (Thesis: “Anarchal Egalitarianism: Happiness, Equality and a Denial of Self-Ownership”)
- Pre-Master of Arts, 1991, University of Manitoba (1990-1991)
- Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s Honour List), University of Manitoba (1985-1987, 1989-1990)
Career
- Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Cosmopolitan Law and Justice, October 2019 - September 2026
- Visiting Researcher,Center for Global Constitutionalism, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Winter/Spring 2019
- Full Professor, McGill University, Faculty of Law, 2017-
- Associate Professor, McGill University, Faculty of Law, 2011-2017
- Assistant Professor, McGill University, Faculty of Law, 2005-2011
- SSHRC Post-doctoral Fellow, McGill University, Faculty of Law, 2003-2005
- University Instructorships, University of Toronto, Dept. of Philosophy, 2000-2002
- United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA), Human Rights Observer and Project Officer, 1996-1999
- University Instructorships, University of Manitoba, Dept. of Philosophy, 1991-1995
Areas of Interest
Legal and political theory, the rule of law, administrative law, the law of fiduciaries, First Nations and the law, human rights.
Selected Publications
Peer-reviewed journal articles
“Mandatory Multilateralism” 113 (2) American Journal of International Law (forthcoming, 2019) (with Evan J. Criddle).
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“Dunsmuir and Jurisdiction” (2018) Canadian Journal of Administrative Law and Practise: Special Issue – A Decade of Dunsmuir: 71-74 (with Alexander Pless).
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"The Authority of Human Rights” (2017) 67 University of Toronto Law Journal: 596–622.
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“Sovereignty as Trusteeship and Indigenous Peoples” (2015) 16 Theoretical Inquiries in Law: 507-533 (with Ian Dahlman).
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“Human Rights, Emergencies and the Rule of Law” (2012) 34 Human Rights Quarterly: 39-87 (with Evan J. Criddle).
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“Contextual Constitutionalism after the UK Human Rights Act 1998” (2012) 61 University of Toronto Law Journal: 133-150.
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“Interest Balancing vs. Fiduciary Duty: Two Models for National Security Law” (2012) 13(5) German Law Journal: 542-559 (with Evan J. Criddle) (ESIL Special Issue: Ruptures in International Law).
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"Democratizing Common Law Constitutionalism" (2010) 55 McGill Law Journal: 511 - 536.
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"The Fiduciary Constitution of Human Rights" (2010) 15(4) Legal Theory 301 - 336 (with Evan J. Criddle).
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"A Fiduciary Theory of Jus Cogens" (2009) 34 Yale Journal of International Law 331 - 387 (with Evan J. Criddle).
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"Is the Rule of Law Really Indifferent to Human Rights?" (2008) 27(6) Law and Philosophy 533 - 581.
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"Rethinking the Relationship Between International and Domestic Law" (2008) 53(4) McGill Law Journal 573 - 648 (with Armand de Mestral).
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"Parliamentary Privilege and the Rule of Law" (2007) 20(2) Cdn. Journal of Admin. Law & Practice 117-140.
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"Fashioning Legal Authority from Power: The Crown-Native Fiduciary Relationship" (2006) 4 New Zealand Journal of Public and International Law 91 – 116.
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“The Fiduciary Nature of State Legal Authority” (2005) 31 Queen’s Law Journal 259 – 310.
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“Rethinking the Process/Substance Distinction: Baker v. Canada” (2001) 51 University of Toronto Law Journal 193-242 (with David Dyzenhaus).
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“Suresh and Canada’s Legal Obligations regarding Torture” (2001) 12 National Journal of Constitutional Law 425-447.
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“Why self-ownership is prescriptively impotent” (1998) 32 Journal of Value Inquiry 489-506.
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Books and monographs
, Evan J. Criddle,Evan Fox-Decent, Andrew S. Gold, Sung Hui Kim, Paul B. Miller eds. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018) 13 chapters; 342 pages.
(Oxford University Press, 2016) (with Evan Criddle) 8 chapters; 392 pages.
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Sovereignty’s Promise: The State as Fiduciary (Oxford Constitutional Theory series, Oxford University Press, 2012) 10 chapters; 305 pages.
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Articles/chapters in books and monographs
“Trust and Authority” in Fiduciaries and Trust: Ethics, Politics, Economics and Law, Matthew Harding & Paul Miller eds (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming, 2019).
“Jurisprudential Reflections on Cosmopolitan Law” in The Double-Facing Constitution, Jacco Bomhoff, David Dyzenhaus, & Tom Poole eds (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, forthcoming, 2019).
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“The Constitution of Equity” in Philosophical Foundations of the Law of Equity, Dennis Klimchuk, Irit Samet & Henry Smith eds. (Oxford University Press, forthcoming, 2019).
“New Frontiers in Public Fiduciary Law” in Oxford Handbook of Fiduciary Law, Evan J Criddle, Paul B Miller, Robert Sitkoff eds (Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming, 2019) 909-924.
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“Dagan & Dorfman’s Jus Gentium Privatum” (2018) 51 Cornell International Law Journal 112-118.
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“Fiduciary Government: Provenance, Promise, and Pitfalls” in Fiduciary Government, Evan Criddle, Evan Fox-Decent, Andrew Gold, Sung Hui Kim, Paul Miller eds. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018) 5-20 (with Evan J. Criddle, et al).
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“Guardians of Legal Order: The Dual Commissions of Public Fiduciaries” in Fiduciary Government, Evan Criddle, Evan Fox-Decent, Andrew Gold, Sung Hui Kim, Paul Miller eds. (Cambridge University Press, 2018)67-95(with Evan J. Criddle).
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“Challenges to Public Fiduciary Theory: An Assessment” in , Andrew Gold & Gordon Smith, eds. (Elgar Press, 2018) 379-400.
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“The Charter and Administrative Law Part I: Procedural Fairness” in Administrative Law in Context: 3rd Edition, L. Sossin & C. Flood eds. (Toronto: Emond Montgomery, 2017) 237-252 (with Alexander Pless).
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“The Charter and Administrative Law Part II: Substantive Review” in Administrative Law in Context: 3rd Edition, L. Sossin & C. Flood eds. (Toronto: Emond Montgomery, 2017)507-528(with Alexander Pless)
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“Keeping the Promise of Public Fiduciary Theory: A Reply to Leib and Galoob” (2016) 126 Yale Law Journal Forum: 192-215 (with Evan J. Criddle).
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“Constitutional Legitimacy Unbound” in Philosophical Foundations of Constitutional Law, David Dyzenhaus & Malcolm Thorburn eds. (Oxford University Press, 2016) (in press): 119-140.
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“Fiduciary Authority and the Service Conception” in Philosophical Foundations of Fiduciary Law,Andrew Gold and Paul Miller eds. (Oxford: OUP, 2014): 363 – 387..
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“Unseating Unilateralism” in Private Law and the Rule of Law, Lisa Austin & Dennis Klimchuk eds. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014): 116 – 138.
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“The Charter and Administrative Law: Cross-Fertilisation or Inconstancy?” in Administrative Law in Context: 2nd Edition, L. Sossin & C. Flood eds. (Toronto: Emond Montgomery, 2013) (with Alexander Pless).
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“Hobbes’s Relational Theory: Beneath Power and Consent” in Hobbes and the Law, David Dyzenhaus & Tom Poole eds. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012): 118-144.
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“From Fiduciary States to Joint Trusteeship of the Atmosphere: The Right to a Healthy Environment through a Fiduciary Prism” in Fiduciary States and the Atmospheric Trust, Ken Coghill, Tim Smith & Charles Sampford eds. (Ashgate Publishing, 2012): 253-268.
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"The Charter and Administrative Law: Cross-Fertilization in Public Law" in Administrative Law in Context, C. Flood & L. Sossin eds. (Toronto: Emond Montgomery, 2008) 169 - 195.
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“Implementation and Reception: The Congeniality of Canada’s Legal Order to International Law” in The Globalized Rule of Law: Relationships between International and Domestic Law, Oonagh Fitzgerald, et. al. eds. (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2006) 31 – 83 (with Armand de Mestral).
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“The Internal Morality of Administration: The Form and Structure of Reasonableness” in The Unity of Public Law, David Dyzenhaus ed., (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2004) 143-171.
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“Constitutional Protection of Indigenous Rights in Canada: Reconciling State Sovereignty with the Pre-existence of Distinctive Aboriginal Societies” in Administración de Justicia y Pueblos Indígenas en la Perspectiva del Derecho Intercultural, Adriana Lander Osío ed., (Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela Press, 2003) 73-103.
Reviews
“Review of Marc Ribeiro, Limiting Arbitrary Power: The Vagueness Doctrine in Canadian Constitutional Law” Queen’s Law Journal (2005) 30 Queen’s Law Journal 923 – 37.
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Other papers and publications
"Deriving Peremptory Norms from Sovereignty" (2009) Am. Soc'y Int'l L. Proc. (with Evan J. Criddle).
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“Indigenous Peoples and Human Dignity” in Dignity: A Special Focus on Vulnerable Groups, F. Mégret & F. Hoffman eds. (Agenda for Human Rights: a Swiss Initiative, 2009): 36 – 48.
Download: Dignity - A Special Focus on Vulnerable Groups [.PDF - 109 kb]
“Parliamentary Privilege, the Charter and the Rule of Law after the Vaid Case”(2007) 20(3) Canadian Parliamentary Review: 27-35. (A revised and abridged version of “Parliamentary Privilege and the Rule of Law” (2007) (20)(2) CJALP.)
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“Programa Andino de Derechos Humanos y Democracia: Final Evaluation Report” (Utrecht, the Netherlands: Human European Consultancy, 2006) 176 pages (with Christiane Tuijtelaars and Hilde Hey).
