This article investigates how the legacies of authoritarian legal systems influence the capacity of attorneys to drive judicial reform in emerging democracies, with case studies from Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
This chapter explores the critical role attorneys play as defenders of the rule of law in backsliding democracies, using Hong Kong as a case study.
In response to renewed concerns over executive overreach, a group of veteran attorneys has launched the Washington Litigation Group — a new law firm dedicated to providing free legal representation to individuals and institutions targeted by President Trump’s administration. The firm’s mission is clear: challenge the erosion of legal norms and defend democratic institutions. One …
In a powerful message from ABA President William R. Bay, the American Bar Association reflects on a pivotal choice it made six months ago: to speak out amid rising threats to the rule of law. Faced with judicial intimidation, attacks on public servants, government resistance to court orders, and assaults on diversity and civil rights, …
The Israeli Cabinet voted unanimously to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, intensifying a power struggle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary that critics warn threatens Israel’s democratic institutions. The Supreme Court quickly froze the move while reviewing its legality, after a watchdog group and more than 15,000 citizens filed an emergency petition calling …
A new report by Middle East Eye, featured in Al Jazeera on August 3, 2025, exposes a campaign of intimidation and political pressure against International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan during his investigation of Israeli officials for alleged war crimes in Gaza. According to the report: The pressure campaign coincided with allegations of …
A Reuters investigation reveals that President Trump’s aggressive campaign against major U.S. law firms is chilling pro bono work and weakening legal defenses for vulnerable populations. In a stark break from precedent, Trump has issued executive orders targeting law firms for taking on cases related to immigration, LGBTQ rights, and challenges to his administration. The …
In a troubling escalation, federal judges across the U.S. who have ruled against President Trump are facing a surge in harassment and threats. According to a July 31 report by Fortune and the Associated Press, judges have been subjected to coordinated intimidation tactics known as “pizza doxings”—unwanted food deliveries in the name of Daniel Anderl, …
In a bold move, the prestigious law firm Milbank has joined a legal battle to defend the sanctuary city policies of Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, and Paterson. Prominent attorneys including former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal have agreed to steeply reduce their hourly rates—Katyal, who normally charges $3,250 per hour, will now work for just …
In 2025, over 200 Department of Justice (DOJ) employees were fired, with thousands more resigning or being pushed out amid a politically charged environment. Many of the dismissals, including that of immigration attorney Erez Reuveni, appeared tied to resistance against politicized directives. Reuveni filed a whistleblower complaint after allegedly being asked to mislead judges and …