This page features a curated selection of scholarly works from around the world that examine the role of judges in democratic decline and resistance to authoritarianism. The bibliography includes books, articles, and working papers from a range of disciplines — including law, political science, and sociology — that explore how legal professionals respond to democratic erosion, repression, and state capture.
Judges as targets of democratic decline
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 …
December 27, 2025Bakiner (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 …
December 27, 2025Kosař & Šipulová (2017), “The Strasbourg Court Meets Abusive Constitutionalism: Baka v. Hungary and the Rule of Law”
Kosař, David & Šipulová, Katarína. The Strasbourg Court Meets Abusive Constitutionalism: Baka v. Hungary and the Rule of Law. Hague Journal on the Rule of Law, 10, 83–110 (2018). Published online November 2, 2017. DOI: …
November 29, 2025Gárdos-Orosz & Szente (2021), Populist Challenges to Constitutional Interpretation in Europe and Beyond
Gárdos-Orosz, Fruzsina & Szente, Zoltán (eds.). Populist Challenges to Constitutional Interpretation in Europe and Beyond. Routledge, Taylor & Francis, 2021. DOI: 10.4324/9781003148944. Available at: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/49404 This edited volume examines how populist governments and movements …
November 29, 2025Kapiszewski (2011), “Tactical Balancing: High Court Decision Making on Politically Crucial Cases”
Kapiszewski, Diana. Tactical Balancing: High Court Decision Making on Politically Crucial Cases (2011). Law & Society Review, 45(2), 471–506. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5893.2011.00437.x High court decision making in politically sensitive cases cannot be fully understood through ideological or …
November 29, 2025- More Posts
Evidence of Judges Resisting Democratic Decline
Kureshi(2022). “Seeking supremacy: The pursuit of judicial power in Pakistan”
Kureshi, Y. (2022). Seeking supremacy: The pursuit of judicial power in Pakistan. Cambridge University Press. The emergence of the judiciary as an assertive and confrontational center of power has been the most consequential new feature of …
January 8, 2026Piana (2010), “Judicial Accountabilities in New Europe: From Rule of Law to Quality of Justice.”
Daniela Piana, Judicial Accountabilities in New Europe: From Rule of Law to Quality of Justice (1st ed.). London: Routledge, 2010. Summary: This volume focuses on a highly challenging aspect of all European democracies, namely the issue …
August 31, 2025Gerzso (2023), “Judicial resistance during electoral disputes: Evidence from Kenya.”
Thalia Gerzso,”Judicial resistance during electoral disputes: Evidence from Kenya.” Electoral Studies, vol.85 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102653. Summary: Over the last decade, African courts have played an important role in the conduct of free and fair elections. In Kenya, …
August 31, 2025Puleo, Coman (2023), “Explaining Judges’ Opposition When Judicial Independence Is Undermined: Insights from Poland, Romania, and Hungary.”
Leonardo Puleo, Ramona Coman, “Explaining Judges’ Opposition When Judicial Independence Is Undermined: Insights from Poland, Romania, and Hungary.” Democratization, vol. 31, no. 1 (2023): 47–69. Summary: Over the past decade, governing parties in Central and …
August 31, 2025Gamboa, García-Holgado, González-Ocantos (2024), “Courts against Backsliding: Lessons from Latin America.”
Laura Gamboa, Benjamín García-Holgado, Ezequiel González-Ocantos, “Courts against Backsliding: Lessons from Latin America.” Law & Policy, vol. 46, no. 4 (2024): 358–379. Summary: The recent wave of autocratization in Latin America has put courts at the …
August 31, 2025- More Posts
Evidence of Judges Aiding Democratic Decline
Federal judges face threats after ruling against the Trump administration
A CBS News 60 Minutes investigation reports that federal judges who rule against President Trump’s agenda are increasingly facing intimidation and violent threats, including “swatting,” bomb threats, doxxing, and other harassment aimed at judges and …
March 1, 2026Pro-Trump attorneys push executive order that would give Trump sweeping power over elections: Sources
According to ABC News, a network of pro-Trump attorneys and allies is promoting a 17-page draft executive order that they say could give President Donald Trump sweeping authority over how U.S. elections are run. The …
March 1, 2026Tunisia Court Orders Release of Lawyer Who Criticized President
A court in Tunisia ordered the release of lawyer Ahmed Souab, whose family confirmed he was freed on February 23, 2026. Souab had become known for publicly opposing President Kais Saied and had been imprisoned …
March 1, 2026Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Kill Federal Judge
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced that Eric James Rennert (56), of Champaign, Illinois, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for sending multiple threatening emails to a U.S. …
February 26, 2026Trump’s vicious attacks on judges fuel his bid for unchecked power
Steven Greenhouse argues that Donald Trump’s recent tirade against supreme court justices (after they ruled against his tariff policy) is not an isolated outburst, but part of a broader, intentional campaign by Trump and key …
February 24, 2026- More Posts