Michael Bohlander

Professor Michael Bohlander is the Chair in Global Law and SETI Policy at Durham Law School, Durham University. He has held this position since 2004, following a distinguished career as a judge in the German judiciary since 1991. He served as an International Co-Investigating Judge in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (2015–present) and as an international judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (2017–2022). His research focuses on the legal implications of potential extraterrestrial contact, including UAP research, international criminal law, and comparative legal systems.

Bohlander’s work bridges law and science, addressing how legal frameworks must adapt to challenges posed by extraterrestrial intelligence. He emphasizes rigorous academic analysis of UAP phenomena and their societal impacts. His book Contact with Extraterrestrial Intelligence and Human Law (2023) explores legal preparedness for extraterrestrial encounters, earning a finalist nod in the 2023 Canopus Awards. He has also contributed extensively to debates on surveillance ethics, judicial independence, and global legal governance.

• Key Roles: Chair in Global Law and SETI Policy, Durham Law School; former International Judge of Cambodian and Kosovo Tribunals.
• Research Themes: SETI/UAP legal frameworks, international criminal law, comparative law, space law.
• Achievements: Canopus Award finalist (2023), over 50 scholarly publications, and leadership in global legal discourse on extraterrestrial contact implications.