The 2007 Lawyers’ Movement in Pakistan marked a pivotal push for rule of law and democratic reform, as lawyers mobilized against authoritarian overreach and succeeded in restoring judicial independence.
Archive
Oko (2000), “Consolidating Democracy on a Troubled Continent: A Challenge for Lawyers in Africa”
The article argues that lawyers are essential to Africa’s democratic transitions, but must overcome past associations with authoritarian regimes to regain public trust and fulfill their reformative potential.
Kapinga (1992), “The Legal Profession and Social Action in the Third World: Reflections on Tanzania and Kenya”
The legal professions in Tanzania and Kenya, despite operating under repressive state control, have played a crucial activist role in challenging authoritarianism—unlike their more individualistic counterparts in the West.
Judge orders El Salvador human rights lawyer jailed for 6 months pending trial
A judge in El Salvador has ordered Ruth Leonora López, a prominent human rights and anti-corruption lawyer, to be jailed for six months pending trial on charges of illegal enrichment. López, head of the Anti-Corruption …
Trump’s big problems with big law
President Trump has issued executive orders aimed at restricting certain law firms that have challenged his administration or represented controversial clients. Some firms have settled, while others are fighting back in court. The NPR Politics …
Mexico Holds First-Ever Judicial Elections Amid Rule of Law Concerns
On June 1, 2025, Mexico held its first national judicial elections, a sweeping reform led by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and current President Claudia Sheinbaum. Voters selected 2,600 judges and magistrates, including all …
Slovak PM Criticizes Judge Over Central Bank Governor’s Bribery Conviction
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly attacked a judge who fined central bank chief Peter Kazimir €200,000 for bribery, claiming the decision may be politically motivated. Kazimir, a former finance minister and current member of …
Trump Administration Targets Brazilian Judge for ‘Censorship’
The Trump administration has unveiled a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials accused of censoring online speech, with language closely mirroring complaints against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Known for ordering the …
Ongoing Judicial Harassment of Thai Human Rights Lawyer Arnon Nampa
Arnon Nampa, a Thai human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, has been repeatedly sentenced under Thailand’s lèse-majesté law for peacefully advocating for monarchy reform. As of May 2025, he is serving over 24 years in …
As Trump lashes out against courts, calls grow for judges to control their security force
As threats against federal judges surge amid escalating rhetoric from President Trump, calls are growing to transfer authority over judicial security from the U.S. Marshals Service to the federal judiciary itself. In a PBS NewsHour …