2025 WOLFGANG FRIEDMANN MEMORIAL

AWARD RECIPIENT:

Secretary John F. Kerry

On March 31, 2025, the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law awarded the 51st Annual Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award to John F. Kerry, 68th United States Secretary of State. Daniel Abebe, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, provided introductory remarks. Nicholas Kourides, Chairman of the Board of the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, introduced the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award. Lori Damrosch, Hamilton Fish Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, then introduced the award recipient.

Since 1975, the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law has presented the Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award to a distinguished scholar or practitioner who has made outstanding contributions to the field of transnational law.

As America’s top diplomat, Secretary Kerry guided the Department’s strategy on nuclear nonproliferation, combating radical extremism, and the threat of climate change. His tenure was marked by the successful negotiation of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris Climate Agreement. On January 20, 2021, he was sworn in as our nation’s inaugural Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and the first-ever Principal to sit on the National Security Council entirely dedicated to climate change. President Biden announced Kerry would have a seat at every table around the world as he combats the climate crisis to meet the existential threat that we face. 

From 1985 to 2013, he served as a U.S. Senator representing Massachusetts, and was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2009 to 2013. Secretary Kerry served in the U.S. Navy, completing two combat tours of duty in Vietnam for which he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from Boston College Law School. Secretary Kerry was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 2004. On May 3rd 2024, Secretary Kerry was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his lifelong commitment to public service.

Throughout Secretary Kerry’s career, he has dedicated himself to public service in the fields of foreign relations and international law. It is our great privilege to present Secretary John F. Kerry with the 2025 Wolfgang Friedmann Memorial Award.