Gibler, D. M., & Randazzo, K. A. (2011). Testing the effects of independent judiciaries on the likelihood of democratic backsliding. American Journal of Political Science, 55(3), 696-709. The authors test the efficacy of judicial independence in preventing …
Archive
Castagnola (2017). Manipulating courts in new democracies: forcing judges off the bench in Argentina.
Castagnola, A. (2017). Manipulating courts in new democracies: forcing judges off the bench in Argentina. Routledge. When can the Executive manipulate the composition of a Court? What political factors explain judicial instability on the bench? Using …
Bakiner (2020). “Endogenous sources of judicial power: parapolitics and the Supreme Court of Colombia.”
Bakiner, O. (2020). Endogenous sources of judicial power: parapolitics and the Supreme Court of Colombia. Comparative Politics, 52(4), 603-624. Courts’ legal-constitutional authority, strategic interactions with elected branches, and ideational factors are acknowledged as rival theoretical …
Bakiner (2016). “Judges Discover Politics: Sources of Judges’ Off-Bench Mobilization in Turkey”.
Bakiner, O. (2016). Judges Discover Politics: Sources of Judges’ Off-Bench Mobilization in Turkey. Journal of Law and Courts, 4(1), 131-157. When do judges initiate public action outside the courtroom? What kinds of political activities do they engage …
Israel’s Supreme Court blocks government attempt to remove attorney general
Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the government’s effort to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara was unlawful, reinforcing judicial checks on executive power. In a decision issued by a seven-judge panel, the Court held that the …
How a Scholar Nudged the Supreme Court Toward Its Troop Deployment Ruling
In a significant ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to the Chicago area, delivering one of its first major setbacks to Trump’s expansive claims of executive …
U.S. federal judge blocks Trump move to revoke whistleblower attorney’s security clearance
A federal judge in Washington has blocked the Trump administration from revoking the security clearance of Mark Zaid, a prominent attorney known for representing whistleblowers and national security officials. Judge Amir Ali ruled that the …
Democratic-led states challenge Trump administration’s attempt to defund CFPB
A coalition of attorneys general from 21 U.S. states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s effort to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The suit argues …
Court Watchers Warn Supreme Court Is Enabling Executive Overreach Under Trump
In a critical assessment of the U.S. Supreme Court’s role in 2025, court watchers argue that the justices — particularly Chief Justice John Roberts — have largely enabled President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda, weakening the …
Congressional Letter on DOJ Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
In December 2025, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress sent a formal letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche raising serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and ethical …