We are excited to share that the Gargoyle, the University of Wisconsin Law School’s alumni magazine, has published a new feature highlighting the work of Lawyers and Democratic Decline (LADD) — a global research initiative examining how lawyers and judges navigate moments of democratic crisis. As democratic backsliding accelerates worldwide, understanding the role of legal …
A coalition of 22 human rights organizations has called on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to take decisive action following its recent review of Egypt’s human rights record. Rights groups argue that both Egypt’s official report (2019–2024) and the Commission’s rapporteur minimized or ignored extensive abuses—including the imprisonment of journalists, political critics, …
At an October 21 event hosted by the New York City Bar Association, leading legal experts from India and the United States warned of escalating threats to judicial independence in both countries. The panel—featuring Justice S. Muralidhar, UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite, retired U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, and civil rights attorney Samah Sisay—highlighted growing …
Lawyers in Nagpur staged a symbolic protest by wearing red ribbons at the District and Sessions Court to draw attention to a surge in violent attacks on advocates across Maharashtra. The demonstration followed a statewide call by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa urging immediate enforcement of the long-pending Advocates’ Protection Act. Members of …
Are we losing our democracy? Countries that slide from democracy toward autocracy tend to follow similar patterns. To measure what is happening in the United States, the N.Y. Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion under Trump: they are a warning of how much Americans have already lost and …
The ACLU is leading the fight to protect civil rights and challenge systemic inequality in housing, employment, education, and beyond. Recent actions by the Trump administration threaten decades of progress by rolling back disparate impact protections — a key tool that holds institutions accountable for policies that disproportionately harm marginalized communities, even without explicit intent …
Chad’s recent constitutional amendment abolishing presidential term limits marks a major setback for democracy and the rule of law. The reform, fast-tracked through parliament and signed by President Mahamat Idriss Déby, allows him to remain in power indefinitely and extends presidential terms from five to seven years. Human Rights Watch warns that this move dismantles …
In a powerful reflection, Suren Avanesyan shares his encounter with two leading Russian human rights lawyers, Vadim Prokhorov and Karina Moskalenko, who continue to defend political prisoners from exile. Their work before the European Court of Human Rights is one of the few remaining avenues for justice as political repression in Russia intensifies. The piece …
As threats against judges intensify across the United States—from swatting and doxxing to direct intimidation—lawyers are mobilizing to protect the judiciary and the rule of law. In a recent interview with Federal News Network, attorney Paul Kiesel discussed the origins of Speak Up for Justice, a coalition of legal professionals advocating for judicial safety and …
Fresh Air — “Implications Of The DOJ Targeting The President’s Critics” Legal scholar and former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade explains how President Trump’s push for the Justice Department to pursue his political opponents (e.g., James Comey) erodes long-standing norms separating law enforcement from politics, threatening prosecutorial independence and the rule of law. The episode lays out …