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 …
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 …
This week’s Legal Ethics Roundup highlights pressing issues at the intersection of law, ethics, and democracy. Former federal judges warn that DOJ lawyers under the Trump administration have misled courts, raising new questions about government accountability. Other major stories include the California Supreme Court’s refusal to erase attorney discipline records, state attorneys general potentially violating …
Michele Beckwith, the acting U.S. attorney in Sacramento, was abruptly fired by President Donald Trump just hours after reminding Border Patrol officials that immigration raids in her district must comply with federal court orders. On 15 July, Beckwith sent an email to Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, emphasizing that agents could not indiscriminately stop or …
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, attorney general Richard Hermer KC and justice minister Sarah Sackman condemned recent political attacks on judges as dangerous, intentional, and corrosive to the rule of law. Hermer warned that naming judges in parliament, as done by Robert Jenrick, puts them at personal risk and undermines public trust in …
Buzurgmehr Yorov, one of Tajikistan’s most fearless human rights lawyers, has been unjustly imprisoned for nearly ten years. He is currently serving a 23-year sentence for defending political opposition leaders, in violation of his fundamental rights. Yorov was arrested in 2015 after representing members of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party and speaking out against torture …
In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump is openly pressuring the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute his political opponents, including Jim Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff. His blunt demands on social media and political reshuffling inside DOJ have deepened fear and uncertainty among career attorneys. Trump recently replaced a top federal prosecutor in …
Abolfazl Ranjbari, a lawyer and writer, has been imprisoned in Tabriz for 138 days without clear charges. Arrested by security forces on May 4, he spent two months under interrogation before being transferred to Tabriz Prison. Authorities have denied him bail, family visits, and communication. Ranjbari’s case has been referred to court, but no trial …
Two Zimbabwean human rights lawyers, Douglas Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi, were arrested after advising police not to interrogate their hospitalized clients—opposition activists who reported being abducted and tortured. Rights groups say the arrests amount to the “criminalization of the profession” and an attack on lawyers’ independence. Both lawyers, members of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, …
On August 29, 2025, Belarusian authorities escalated their campaign against the legal profession by designating the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) an “extremist formation.” This move threatens members and associates with up to 10 years in prison for alleged affiliation. BAHRL, formed by exiled lawyers stripped of their licenses, has worked to defend …