The Department of State is pleased to announce the release of the 2021 Compendium of US Practice in International Law, which covers developments during calendar year 2021. Edited by the Office of the Legal Adviser, the Compendium provides a record to the public from the views and practice of the US Government in public and private international law. The official edition of the 2021 Digest is available in its entirety on the State Department website at: https://www.state.gov/digest-of-united-states-practice-in-international-law/. Past Summaries for 1989 to 2020 are also available online.
The Digest traces its history back to an 1877 essay by John Cadwalader, which was followed by multi-volume encyclopedias covering selected areas of international law. The Digest later became known to many as “Whiteman’s” after Marjorie Whiteman, editor 1963-1971. Beginning in 1973, the Office of the Legal Adviser published the Digest annually, changing its focus to current developments of the year. Although publication was suspended after 1988, the Office of the Legal Adviser resumed publication in 2000 and has since produced volumes covering 1989 to 2020.
