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 …
On November 22, thousands of Tunisians marched through downtown Tunis in one of the largest demonstrations yet against President Kais Saied. Protesters—dressed in black and carrying signs reading “Enough repression” and “The streets belong to the people”—accused Saied of turning the country into an “open-air prison” and consolidating one-man rule through the judiciary and security …
Twenty-three international human rights and legal organizations have expressed deep concern over the detention of Guatemalan lawyer Ramón Cadena, arrested on 10 November 2025 despite voluntarily participating in ongoing legal proceedings. Cadena, known for his long-standing work defending human rights and advising the student movement at the University of San Carlos (USAC), faces charges including …
A deadly terrorist assault on the district and sessions courts complex in Islamabad’s G-11 sector has triggered a national outcry from Pakistan’s legal community. The attack, which killed multiple people and injured dozens—including lawyers and court staff—exposed severe lapses in security at what should have been a high-protection judicial site. The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) …
Pakistan’s parliament has passed a sweeping constitutional amendment that expands the powers of the military and sharply reduces the authority of the Supreme Court — a move critics warn will cause lasting damage to the country’s democracy. The amendment elevates Army Chief Asim Munir to a new position, Chief of Defence Forces, giving him formal …
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 …