University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Dressel, Inoue, Bonoan (2024), “Justices and Political Loyalties: An Empirical Investigation of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1987-2020.”

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Björn Dressel, Tomoo Inoue, Cristina Regina Bonoan, “Justices and Political Loyalties: An Empirical Investigation of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1987–2020.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 49, no. 2 (2024): 955–79.  Summary: The Philippine Supreme Court is considered one of Asia’s most activist courts. During the regime of President Rodrigo Duterte (2016–22), however, concerns grew …

Chopra (2019), “Judging the Troops: Exceptional Security Measures and Judicial Impact in India.”

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Surabhi Chopra, “Judging the Troops: Exceptional Security Measures and Judicial Impact in India.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 44, no. 3 (2019): 555–85.  Summary: This Article examines a controversial national security measure: the use of the armed forces within domestic borders. Military policing blurs the boundaries between crime and war, and tends to entail greater use …

Bridge, Nichols (2016), “Congressional Attacks on the Supreme Court: A Mechanism to Maintain, Build, and Consolidate.”

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Dave Bridge, Curt Nichols, “Congressional Attacks on the Supreme Court: A Mechanism to Maintain, Build, and Consolidate.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 41, no. 1 (2016): 100–125.  Summary: Reexamination and reinterpretation of the “mature” (1955–1984) New Deal era of congressional attacks on the Supreme Court reveals a new hypothesis: that Court‐curbing efforts played a previously unrecognized …

Kisilowski (2015), “The Middlemen: The Legal Profession, the Rule of Law, and Authoritarian Regimes.”

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Maciej Kisilowski, “The Middlemen: The Legal Profession, the Rule of Law, and Authoritarian Regimes.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 40, no. 3 (2015): 700–722. Summary: Scholars are increasingly interested in exploring ways to strengthen the rule of law in authoritarian states—especially when deeper political reforms are not attainable. The article contributes to this discussion by …

Li (2012), “The ‘Production’ of Corruption in China’s Courts: Judicial Politics and Decision Making in a One-Party State.”

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Ling Li, “The ‘Production’ of Corruption in China’s Courts: Judicial Politics and Decision Making in a One-Party State.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 37, no. 4 (2012): 848–77.  Summary: Despite its rampant presence, judicial corruption in China has often been regarded as the idiosyncratically deviant behavior of a few black sheep eluding prescribed judicial conduct. This …

Rajah (2011), “Punishing Bodies, Securing the Nation: How Rule of Law can Legitimate the Urbane Authoritarian State.”

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Jothie Rajah. “Punishing Bodies, Securing the Nation: How Rule of Law Can Legitimate the Urbane Authoritarian State.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 36, no. 4 (2011): 945–70. Summary: Although authoritarian rule of law may seem an oxymoron, strategic reconfigurations of the “rule of law” can produce acceptance of law that observes procedure while erasing rights. …

Ghias (2010), “Miscarriage of Chief Justice: Judicial Power and the Legal Complex in Pakistan under Musharraf.”

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Shoaib A Ghias, “Miscarriage of Chief Justice: Judicial Power and the Legal Complex in Pakistan under Musharraf.” Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 35, no. 4 (2010): 985–1022.  Summary: This article explores the struggle for judicial power in Pakistan under Pervez Musharraf focusing on two questions. First, how did pro‐Musharraf regime judges expand judicial power, leading …

Belarus Intensifies Crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers

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On August 29, 2025, Belarusian authorities escalated their campaign against the legal profession by designating the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) an “extremist formation.” This move threatens members and associates with up to 10 years in prison for alleged affiliation. BAHRL, formed by exiled lawyers stripped of their licenses, has worked to defend …

The only lawyer in DC willing to take on Trump

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Veteran Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell has emerged as one of the only attorneys in Washington willing to take on Donald Trump during his second term, after the president targeted law firms representing immigrants, diversity causes, or other opposition. While big firms backed away from cases under pressure, Lowell left his practice to open his own …

Court throws out lawsuit by Trump administration against all 15 Maryland federal judges

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A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration’s unusual lawsuit targeting all 15 federal judges in Maryland. The administration had challenged an order by Chief Judge George L. Russell III that temporarily blocks the immediate deportation of immigrants who file habeas petitions, giving courts time to review their cases and ensure access to attorneys. Judge …