In an unprecedented move, longtime federal judge Mark Wolf resigned from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts after more than 40 years of service, publicly condemning President Donald Trump as an “existential threat to democracy.” In an essay in The Atlantic, Wolf said he could no longer remain silent under judicial ethics …
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche escalated the administration’s attacks on the judiciary, urging young lawyers to join what he called a “war” against “rogue activist judges.” Speaking at the Federalist Society’s annual conference, Blanche said DOJ lawyers are “bouncing around this country fighting these activist judges,” claiming some judges are now “as political as …
In November 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf publicly resigned from the federal bench, arguing that President Trump poses an “existential threat to democracy.” Writing in The Atlantic, Wolf accused the administration of weaponizing the justice system—pursuing political adversaries while protecting allies, donors, and friends from legal scrutiny. Wolf, a Reagan appointee with …
At an October 21 event hosted by the New York City Bar Association, leading legal experts from India and the United States warned of escalating threats to judicial independence in both countries. The panel—featuring Justice S. Muralidhar, UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite, retired U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, and civil rights attorney Samah Sisay—highlighted growing …
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed strong concern over reports from the United States indicating increasing retaliation, intimidation, and politically motivated actions against justice officials. According to the Commission, recent statements and measures by state authorities appear to target prosecutors and public servants for carrying out their professional duties or for their perceived …
Lawyers in Nagpur staged a symbolic protest by wearing red ribbons at the District and Sessions Court to draw attention to a surge in violent attacks on advocates across Maharashtra. The demonstration followed a statewide call by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa urging immediate enforcement of the long-pending Advocates’ Protection Act. Members of …
The D.C. Bar’s Ethics Opinion 391 (October 2025) addresses the ethical implications of lawyers or law firms entering agreements with government entities that may limit or shape their legal practice. The opinion cautions that such arrangements can create conflicts of interest, impose improper restrictions on a lawyer’s right to practice, or undermine professional independence. It …
Are we losing our democracy? Countries that slide from democracy toward autocracy tend to follow similar patterns. To measure what is happening in the United States, the N.Y. Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion under Trump: they are a warning of how much Americans have already lost and …
According to the World Justice Project’s 2025 Rule of Law Index, Romania has dropped three places to 44th globally, reflecting a continued decline in democratic standards and institutional integrity. The report highlights weakening checks on government power, reduced transparency, and growing political interference in the judiciary, echoing a global trend where 68% of countries show …
Alex, H. (2025). Fuzzy Boundaries: A Mechanism for Group Accumulation of Advantage. Sociological Theory, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/07352751251378516 This article describes a strategic mechanism, fuzzy boundaries, that groups use to accumulate advantage. In contrast to the dominant view that rigid, well-defined boundaries maximize group rewards, I argue that ambiguity in membership criteria can, under certain conditions, more …