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 lawyers and judges. An international coalition of legal groups selected the US—previously seen as a global model of judicial independence—because …
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 home entries—push beyond established constitutional limits and conflict with Fourth Amendment protections. Federal courts have acted as a key check …
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, denies the allegations, calls the decision politically motivated, and plans to appeal. The case is linked to Kazakhstan’s recent refusal …
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 than a check on executive power. The article argues this rhetoric is part of a broader strategy to delegitimize judicial …
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 sentences of three to 12 years for the bar’s president and 10 board members, accusing them of spreading terrorist propaganda …
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 agencies to scrutinize government contracts connected to firms’ clients, citing firms’ political ties or high-profile adversarial hires. Four firms—Perkins Coie, …
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 cabinet’s March no-confidence vote against Baharav-Miara was null and void because it bypassed the legally required procedure, which mandates consultation …
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 presidential memorandum targeting Zaid amounted to improper political retribution and could not be used to penalize a lawyer for representing …
On December 18, 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal breached fundamental principles of EU law and cannot be considered independent or impartial. The court cited serious irregularities in the appointment of the tribunal’s president and several judges, most of whom were installed under the former Law and …
A new report from the UK House of Lords Constitution Committee warns that personal attacks on judges—by politicians and the media—are undermining public confidence in the rule of law. While open debate about court decisions is healthy, the Committee stresses that targeting individual judges or portraying the judiciary as “activist” is unjustified and harmful. The …