Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez announced an “amnesty” bill that, if approved by the ruling party–controlled National Assembly of Venezuela, could lead to the release of hundreds of people detained for political reasons, including opposition …
Month: January 2026
Judge in Minnesota tries to keep Trump administration in check during crackdown
A federal judge in Minneapolis sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for repeatedly failing to follow court orders in lawsuits filed by people arrested during the Donald Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Chief U.S. District …
Supreme Court rules Polish government unlawfully removed judicial officials
Poland’s Supreme Court has ruled that the justice minister, Waldemar Żurek, and his predecessor, Adam Bodnar, acted unlawfully when they removed three judicial disciplinary officials—Piotr Schab, Przemysław Radzik, and Michał Lasota—before their fixed terms expired. …
Statement of ABA President Michelle A. Behnke Re: Shootings in Minneapolis
On January 26, 2026, American Bar Association President Michelle A. Behnke issued a statement responding to the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both U.S. citizens, during encounters with immigration agents in Minneapolis. …
Police credit cooperation for arrests in attacks on judge and his wife
In Lafayette, police and state/federal partners announced the arrests of five suspects tied to the Jan. 18, 2026 shooting of Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, who were both wounded but are expected to …
Report of the Coalition for the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer (2026) — United States
This report, published for the 16th International Day of the Endangered Lawyer (24 January 2026), examines growing threats to the independence, safety, and professional freedom of lawyers in the United States. Traditionally seen as a …
LDAD (Lawyers Defending American Democracy) 2025 Report
In 2025, Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD) responded to intensified challenges to due process, separation of powers, and judicial independence with a mix of accountability and action. The organization filed ethics complaints, submitted amicus briefs …
Pakistan Arrests Prominent Human Rights Lawyers Amid Crackdown on Dissent
Pakistani authorities arrested human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, while they were traveling to a court hearing in Islamabad. The arrests, reportedly carried out with force and without …
Turkish Court Blocks Erdogan Rival’s Presidential Path
A Turkish court has rejected jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s legal challenge against the cancellation of his university degree, a ruling that further jeopardizes his ability to run for president in 2028. Without a valid …
‘Endangered lawyer’ day highlights US justice system’s plummeting standing
The United States has been named the focus of the 2026 International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, marking it as a country where the rule of law is under threat due to political intimidation of …