A court in Tunisia ordered the release of lawyer Ahmed Souab, whose family confirmed he was freed on February 23, 2026. Souab had become known for publicly opposing President Kais Saied and had been imprisoned …
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Trump’s DOJ seeks examples of ‘egregious’ judges for Congress to review
On February 10, 2026, the U.S. Justice Department said it asked federal prosecutors to identify the “most egregious” cases of judges allegedly obstructing President Donald Trump’s agenda, information the department says could help Congress consider …
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, …
U.S. federal judge blocks Trump move to revoke whistleblower attorney’s security clearance
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 …
Legal Experts and Lawmakers Warn Trump’s Narco-Boat Strikes Violate International Law
A recent Washington Post investigation reported that U.S. forces conducted a second strike on survivors of an initial attack against an alleged drug-trafficking boat off the coast of Venezuela. Legal experts say such an action …
Twelve Hong Kong activists appeal convictions in landmark ’47 democrats’ case
Twelve pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have appealed their convictions and prison sentences in the landmark “47 democrats” case, which has become a global symbol of Beijing’s crackdown on dissent under the National Security Law. …
Liebman (2011), “A Populist Threat to Chinese Courts?”
Liebman, Benjamin L. “A Populist Threat to China’s Courts?,” in Chinese Justice: Civil Dispute Resolution in Contemporary China. Edited by Margaret Y. K. Woo & Mary E. Gallagher, pp. 269-313. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2011). …
Basabe-Serrano (2015), “Informal Institutions and Judicial Independence in Paraguay, 1954-2011”
Santiago Basabe-Serrano, “Informal Institutions and Judicial Independence in Paraguay, 1954-2011.” Law & Policy, vol. 37, no. 4 (2015): 350-378. Summary: This article explains how informal institutions have prevented the emergence of autonomous judges in Paraguay between …
Hsu (2019), “The Political Origins of Professional Identity: Lawyers, Judges, and Prosecutors in Taiwan’s State Transformation”
This article argues that moments of political upheaval shape the legal profession’s collective identity, showing how divergent experiences under authoritarianism in Taiwan led judges, lawyers, and prosecutors to develop distinct normative commitments based on their roles in resisting or navigating state power during democratization.
Judges in Nicaragua now answer to police under Ortega and Murillo’s rule
In a major blow to judicial independence, President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo have formally subordinated Nicaragua’s courts to the National Police, according to a leaked directive requiring police approval for all court-ordered …