In April 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order targeting the law firm Susman Godfrey LLP based on the clients it represents and the causes it supports. This opinion from the U.S. District Court for D.C. finds the order unconstitutional, citing grave violations of free speech, due process, and separation of powers.
In this captivating talk, ABA President Bill Bay delivers a powerful message on the vital importance of defending justice and upholding the rule of law. Drawing on his extensive legal experience, Bay emphasizes the fundamental role of legal institutions in preserving democracy and protecting individual rights. He discusses key challenges facing the legal system today, …
In a rare and sweeping legal move, the U.S. Department of Justice has sued all federal judges in Maryland, accusing them of overstepping their authority by issuing automatic injunctions that block immigrant removals without case-by-case review. The complaint warns that these standing orders unlawfully tie the hands of federal immigration authorities and undermine the balance of powers between the judiciary and the executive branch.
This document contains the official whistleblower complaint submitted by Erez Reuveni, a senior Department of Justice attorney, who was terminated after refusing to mislead a federal court about a wrongful deportation. The letter details serious allegations against DOJ and White House officials, including defiance of court orders, abuse of authority, and endangerment of noncitizens. It was submitted to multiple oversight bodies by the Government Accountability Project and Gilbert Employment Law on June 24, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump harshly criticized Israeli prosecutors over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, asserting that the legal proceedings threaten to undermine regional diplomacy during a sensitive period. Netanyahu, who was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust—all of which he denies—is scheduled for cross-examination on Monday. A …
At a judicial conference in North Carolina, Chief Justice John Roberts cautioned that hostile political rhetoric directed at judges can incite violence. While not naming specific individuals, Roberts acknowledged issuing statements in response to inflammatory remarks from both Republican and Democratic officials. His comments follow a rise in threats and attacks on judges, including several …
J. Yam, “Judging Under Authoritarianism.” Mod Law Rev., vol. 87, no.4 (2024): 894-925. Summary: Authoritarianism has significant implications for how judges should discharge their duties. How should judges committed to constitutionalism conduct themselves when under authoritarian pressure? To answer this question, the article proposes a two-step adjudicative framework, documents a variety of judicial strategies, and …
Alexei Trochev & Peter Solomon, “Authoritarian constitutionalism in Putin’s Russia: A pragmatic constitutional court in a dual state.” Communist and Post-Communist Studies, vol 51, no 3 (2018): 201-214. Summary: This article analyzes the successful adaptation of the Russian Constitutional Court (RCC) to an increasingly authoritarian regime under President Vladimir Putin. It argues that the key to …
Ying Sun and Hualing Fu, “Of Judge Quota and Judicial Autonomy: An Enduring Professionalization Project in China.” The China Quarterly, vol. 251 (2022): 866–87. Summary: This article presents the findings of original research on “judge quota” reform. The reform’s agenda was essentially aimed at professionalization: by edging out a given percentage of judges, only the better …
V. V. Ramraj & A. K Thiruvengadam, Emergency Powers in Asia: Exploring the Limits of Legality. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Summary: What is the relevance of contemporary debates over emergency powers for countries situated in Asia? What role does, and should, the constitution play in constraining these powers? The essays in this collection address these …