Michele Beckwith, the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento, was abruptly fired by President Donald Trump just hours after reminding Border Patrol officials that immigration raids in her district must comply with federal court orders. On …
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Labour Leaders Warn Against Political Attacks on Judges
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, attorney general Richard Hermer KC and justice minister Sarah Sackman condemned recent political attacks on judges as dangerous, intentional, and corrosive to the rule of law. Hermer warned …
Tajikistan lawyer wrongfully held for a decade
Buzurgmehr Yorov, one of Tajikistan’s most fearless human rights lawyers, has been unjustly imprisoned for nearly ten years. He is currently serving a 23-year sentence for defending political opposition leaders, in violation of his fundamental …
US hits Brazilian judge’s wife with sanctions as Trump showdown deepens
The Trump administration has escalated tensions with Brazil by sanctioning Viviane Barci de Moraes, wife of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the criminal case against Jair Bolsonaro. The U.S. also revoked visas …
Former special counsel Jack Smith warns that rule of law is ‘under attack’
In his first public remarks since leaving the Justice Department, former special counsel Jack Smith cautioned that the rule of law is facing unprecedented threats. Speaking at George Mason University, Smith condemned political interference in …
Legal groups resist Trump authoritarian moves with pro bono work
As the Trump administration escalates politically motivated firings, blocks congressionally approved funds, and pressures major law firms, a wave of smaller legal outfits has stepped in to defend democracy and the rule of law. Key …
Holgado & Urribarri (2024), “The Dark Side of Legalism: Abuse of the Law and Democratic Erosion in Argentina, Ecuador, and Venezuela”.
Holgado, B. G., & Urribarri, R. S. (2024). The Dark Side of Legalism: Abuse of the Law and Democratic Erosion in Argentina, Ecuador, and Venezuela. American Behavioral Scientist, 68(12), 1578-1596. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642241268332 (Original work published 2024) …
Garcia Holgado & Urribarri, (2023) “Court-packing and democratic decay: A necessary relationship? Global Constitutionalism”
Garcia Holgado, B., & Sánchez Urribarri, R. (2023). Court-packing and democratic decay: A necessary relationship? Global Constitutionalism, 12(2), 350–377. doi:10.1017/S2045381723000011 A growing body of literature on the role of courts in democratic backsliding claims that court-packing weakens …
Michelson & Li (2012). “Judicial performance without independence: the delivery of justice and political legitimacy in rural China”..
Michelson, E., & Li, K. (2012, May). Judicial performance without independence: the delivery of justice and political legitimacy in rural China. In Prepared for workshop on works-in-progress on Chinese law. The debate over whether weak judicial …
de Sa e Silva (2022), “Autocratic Legalism 2.0: Insights from a Global Collaborative Research Project.”
de Sa e Silva, Fabio de. “Autocratic Legalism 2.0: Insights from a Global Collaborative Research Project.” Verfassung Und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America 55, no. 4 (2022): 419–40. …