On February 24, 2026, the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court held the eighth hearing in the case against lawyer Necat Çiçek, who is being prosecuted over his legal work and participation in press statements. Çiçek …
Attacks Against Legal Profession
Condemning lengthy prison sentences imposed on Turkish lawyers for lawful professional and human rights work
A coalition of international legal and human rights organizations, including the New York City Bar Association, issued a joint statement condemning the January 28, 2026 convictions of 10 ÖHD lawyers and 20 TUAD executives/staff by …
Erdoğan appoints controversial prosecutor as justice minister, sparking opposition backlash
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has appointed İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek as Turkey’s new justice minister, prompting a sharp backlash from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The CHP argues the move confirms …
Pakistan Arrests Prominent Human Rights Lawyers Amid Crackdown on Dissent
Pakistani authorities arrested human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, while they were traveling to a court hearing in Islamabad. The arrests, reportedly carried out with force and without …
‘Endangered lawyer’ day highlights US justice system’s plummeting standing
The United States has been named the focus of the 2026 International Day of the Endangered Lawyer, marking it as a country where the rule of law is under threat due to political intimidation of …
Trump’s Second-Term Challenges to the Judiciary – Interview with law professor Steve Vladeck
A PBS NewsHour segment examines how President Trump’s second-term policies are placing unprecedented strain on the U.S. judicial system. Constitutional law professor Steve Vladeck argues that recent executive actions—especially on immigration enforcement, including proposed warrantless …
Kazakhstan Disbars Lawyer Who Defended Chechen Refugee
Kazakhstani lawyer Murat Adam has been disbarred following a complaint by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which accused him of discrediting law enforcement through social media posts. Adam, who previously defended Chechen refugee Mansur Movlaev, …
Fierce government attacks on Supreme Court part of campaign of delegitimization
n a January 14, 2026 analysis, The Times of Israel reports that senior Israeli ministers have escalated personal and institutional attacks on the Supreme Court, framing it as an illegitimate “enemy of the people” rather …
38 international rights groups urge Turkey to halt terrorism case against İstanbul Bar leadership
In January 2026, 38 international human rights and legal organizations urged Turkey to drop terrorism charges against the leadership of the Istanbul Bar Association ahead of an expected final court ruling. Prosecutors are seeking prison …
Trump’s Battle With Big Law Firms Heads Into 2026: What to Know
In early 2026, the legal fight over President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting major U.S. law firms is moving into a new phase. The orders sought to restrict lawyers’ security clearances and encouraged federal …