This section features curated news articles on the role of lawyers and judges in democratic decline in the U.S. and globally. It highlights how legal professionals are implicated in, impacted by, or push back against authoritarianism and democratic backsliding. Each post includes a brief summary or commentary that connects current events to broader scholarly debates on the legal profession and the defense of democratic norms.
News Regarding Lawyers
Lawyers Against Democratic Decline
Judicial misconduct complaint filed by Justice Dept. against Judge James Boasberg is dismissed
A federal appeals court judge, Jeffrey Sutton, dismissed a judicial misconduct complaint the United States Department of Justice filed against James Boasberg, ruling that the department failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate allegations that …
February 2, 2026
A California lawyer takes the civil rights fight home to Minneapolis
In this column, Anita Chabria profiles James Cook, an Oakland civil rights lawyer who has been spending months in Minneapolis helping people swept up in a federal crackdown—protesters, immigrants, and even U.S. citizens—often pro bono. …
February 1, 2026
Venezuela announces amnesty bill that could lead to mass release of political prisoners
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez announced an “amnesty” bill that, if approved by the ruling party–controlled National Assembly of Venezuela, could lead to the release of hundreds of people detained for political reasons, including opposition …
January 30, 2026
Statement of ABA President Michelle A. Behnke Re: Shootings in Minneapolis
On January 26, 2026, American Bar Association President Michelle A. Behnke issued a statement responding to the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both U.S. citizens, during encounters with immigration agents in Minneapolis. …
January 26, 2026
Renewing the Commitment of Big Firm Lawyers?
This piece examines how large U.S. law firms have responded to political pressure from the Trump administration, especially efforts to punish firms representing government critics. While some firms settled or retreated from controversial litigation, others …
January 22, 2026
The Legal Profession’s Duty to Hold Attorney General Pam Bondi Accountable
This article argues that the legal profession has an ethical obligation to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi accountable for actions that allegedly undermine the rule of law and professional standards within the U.S. Department of …
January 20, 2026
How the American Legal Profession Can Regain Its Dignity
In this guest essay, former federal judges Shira A. Scheindlin and John Jones III argue that the American legal profession failed a crucial test during the Trump administration by largely acquiescing to government pressure. They …
January 19, 2026
DOJ Prosecutors Resign Over ICE Shooting Investigation
In January 2026, a wave of resignations swept the U.S. Department of Justice following its handling of the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE officer. At least four senior leaders from …
January 13, 2026- Read More
Attacks Against Legal Profession
Pakistan Arrests Prominent Human Rights Lawyers Amid Crackdown on Dissent
Pakistani authorities arrested human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, while they were traveling to a court hearing in Islamabad. The arrests, reportedly carried out with force and without …
January 23, 2026
‘Endangered lawyer’ day highlights US justice system’s plummeting standing
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 …
January 22, 2026
Trump’s Second-Term Challenges to the Judiciary – Interview with law professor Steve Vladeck
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 …
January 22, 2026
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, …
January 16, 2026
Fierce government attacks on Supreme Court part of campaign of delegitimization
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 …
January 14, 2026
38 international rights groups urge Turkey to halt terrorism case against İstanbul Bar leadership
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 …
January 7, 2026
Trump’s Battle With Big Law Firms Heads Into 2026: What to Know
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 …
January 2, 2026
Israel’s Supreme Court blocks government attempt to remove attorney general
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 …
December 27, 2025- Read More
Lawyers Facilitating Democratic Decline
Turkish Court Blocks Erdogan Rival’s Presidential Path
A Turkish court has rejected jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s legal challenge against the cancellation of his university degree, a ruling that further jeopardizes his ability to run for president in 2028. Without a valid …
January 23, 2026
Court Watchers Warn Supreme Court Is Enabling Executive Overreach Under Trump
In a critical assessment of the U.S. Supreme Court’s role in 2025, court watchers argue that the justices — particularly Chief Justice John Roberts — have largely enabled President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda, weakening the …
December 24, 2025
Congressional Letter on DOJ Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
In December 2025, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress sent a formal letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche raising serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and ethical …
December 19, 2025
Poland’s Supreme Court Rejects EU Authority Over Justice System
Poland’s rule-of-law crisis escalated after a group of Supreme Court judges—appointed during the former Law and Justice (PiS) government’s controversial judicial overhaul—issued a resolution rejecting the European Union’s right to regulate Poland’s justice system. They …
December 3, 2025
Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal Blocks Judicial Reform Bill
Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal (TK) has struck down a government bill aimed at overhauling the National Council of the Judiciary (KRS), a central institution in Poland’s years-long rule-of-law crisis. The decision—expected due to the TK’s continued …
November 20, 2025
What If the Big Law Firms Hadn’t Caved to Trump?
This New Yorker article examines how major U.S. law firms responded to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the broader implications for the legal profession. It argues that many elite firms, once …
October 25, 2025
The Hand That Rocks The Gavel
This American Life #868 — “The Hand That Rocks the Gavel.” Reporters spend weeks inside New York’s immigration court, where ICE detains people in courthouse hallways as immigration judges describe unprecedented pressure from the DOJ …
September 19, 2025
Trump’s $940 Million Law Firm Deals Face Uncertainty
Nearly five months after nine major U.S. law firms struck deals with former President Donald Trump—pledging a collective $940 million in free legal services—the impact remains unclear. Some firms continue to take cases opposing Trump’s …
August 15, 2025- Read More
News Regarding Judges
Targets and Resistance
Judge in Minnesota tries to keep Trump administration in check during crackdown
A federal judge in Minneapolis sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for repeatedly failing to follow court orders in lawsuits filed by people arrested during the Donald Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Chief U.S. District …
January 29, 2026
Supreme Court rules Polish government unlawfully removed judicial officials
Poland’s Supreme Court has ruled that the justice minister, Waldemar Żurek, and his predecessor, Adam Bodnar, acted unlawfully when they removed three judicial disciplinary officials—Piotr Schab, Przemysław Radzik, and Michał Lasota—before their fixed terms expired. …
January 27, 2026
Police credit cooperation for arrests in attacks on judge and his wife
In Lafayette, police and state/federal partners announced the arrests of five suspects tied to the Jan. 18, 2026 shooting of Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, who were both wounded but are expected to …
January 25, 2026
UN Expert Urges Guatemala to Safeguard Integrity in 2026 Judicial Appointments
In January 2026, a UN human rights expert warned that Guatemala’s upcoming judicial appointments represent a critical test for the country’s rule of law and democratic institutions. Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence …
January 20, 2026
Senate Republicans Call to Impeach Federal Judges Over Rulings
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans are urging the US House to impeach two federal judges over rulings they argue were politically motivated and harmful to the Trump administration. The effort targets Washington, DC Chief Judge James …
January 7, 2026
When Judges Are Attacked, You Suffer
In this New York Times opinion video, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas warns that escalating political attacks on the judiciary are directly endangering judges and undermining the rule of law. Drawing on her personal experience …
December 18, 2025
Former Chief Justice Warns: Elected Officials Are Undermining Rule of Law in Israel
At a major public law conference in Haifa, former Supreme Court president Esther Hayut delivered a stark warning about what she described as a growing assault on Israel’s judicial system. Hayut condemned certain elected officials …
December 6, 2025
Federal Judge Dismisses Cases Against James Comey and Letitia James
A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the prosecutor who secured their indictments, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed as …
November 24, 2025- Read More
