Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/134761
When Adam Weber '91 graduated from "Being a prosecutor at an international criminal tribunal is an honor, an inspiration and a humbling responsibility." 44 Latin and headed to the University of Iowa, he wasn't entirely sure what his career would look like. One thing was clear, he said: "I knew I wanted to do something where I could make a difference in the lives of others." Today, Weber is achieving that goal through his commitment to victims of crime both here and abroad. For the past five years, Weber has been an attorney in the Trial Division of the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He is currently trying his third case for the tribunal. Since May 2012, he has been prosecuting former Bosnian Serb military leader General Ratko Mladić for genocide, persecution on racial and religious grounds, hostage-taking and other war-related charges. One of Weber's previous cases focused on the mass extermination of Bosnian Muslims. Weber has been preparing for his current job since joining the trial advocacy team at Chicago-Kent College of Law. After graduation, Weber brought his talent for trial advocacy to the classroom, sharing his skills with prosecutors around the country, and in 2001 he joined the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as an assistant state's attorney. "The experiences I gained as a prosecutor in Chicago and as a teacher fostered my interest in helping others and seeking justice on behalf of victims." Weber said. "This desire led me to the tribunal." One morning in February 2008, he received a job offer on behalf of the secretary general of the United Nations, inviting him to join the Office of the Prosecutor at the tribunal. "Being a prosecutor at an international criminal tribunal is an honor, an inspiration and a humbling responsibility," Weber said. "It is an honor in the sense that I feel privileged to work with extraordinarily talented and L AT I N M AGAZINE principled colleagues from all over the world who are dedicated to holding political and military leaders responsible for offenses which defy the very notion of humanity. Every day I am inspired by the witnesses and surviving victims of crimes who, despite tragic and horrific events in their lives, exemplify courage and travel great distances to The Hague in order to provide evidence." Weber attributes his success to a number of factors, including the support of his parents and his wife, Heather. He also credits the academic foundation he received at Latin and the lessons in teamwork he learned on the athletic field from Coach Tom Bower. Weber expects the Mladić trial to last for another year. When it's over, he and his family plan to return to the United States, where Weber hopes to continue his work on behalf of communities in need. n