Courts & Litigation

Just Security’s expert authors offer analysis and informational resources on key litigation impacting national security, rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Our content spans domestic and international litigation, from cases at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and other international and regional tribunals, to those in U.S. courts involving executive branch actions, transnational litigation, and more.

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3,030 Articles
The Department of Justice

How a Broadly Defined Counterterrorism Statute Could Be Abused

18 U.S.C. § 2339A doesn’t require proof of group membership or terrorist intent, and the policy framework around it outweighs any single verdict.
Observers film ICE agents as they hold a perimeter after one of their vehicles got a flat tire on Penn Avenue on February 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protests continue calling for an end to immigration raids which have already resulted in the fatal shooting deaths of Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, and Renee Good, a mother of three, by federal agents. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Confrontation in Court: How to Hold the Trump Administration Accountable for Violating Court Orders

Judge Schiltz’s orders in Tobay Robles v. Noem expose 96 ICE court-order violations in one month and show how forcing top officials to testify can restore the rule of law.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks alongside Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick (C) and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (R) during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

What Just Happened: Tariffs Are Gone and Then Back Again

The SCOTUS decision on Trump's tariffs, and the president’s subsequent reaction, leave many questions about tariff rates and what comes next.
Headquarters of the New York Police Department, Manhattan New York, February 22, 2026 (photo by Melissa Bender)

FBI’s “Stand Down” Directive to NYPD on Jeffrey Epstein Investigations, and More

The most comprehensive timeline to date of the publicly available record on New York law enforcement authorities’ action and inaction with regard to Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell…
Close-up of a wooden judge’s gavel resting on a sound block in front of stacked law books, symbolizing law, justice, and court proceedings.​

Looking Forward: What Can Courts Do and When

Given international courts current role and relevant limitations in ending wars, how can courts play a more meaningful role in ending war, or in preventing a return to war?
International Court of Justice chambers.

Symposium: Is There a Role for International Courts in Ending Wars?

Judicial involvement in ongoing armed conflicts should be examined from multiple vantage points: courts, victims, parties to conflict, and broader goals of peace and security.
Wide shot of the International Court of Justice courtroom, with judges seated in a row behind a long elevated bench beneath a large mural, and rows of delegates and observers seated at desks facing the bench, listening to ongoing proceedings.

Courts in Wartime: A Level Playing Field for Peace

Although international courts have limits, they can do what few other peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms can when it comes to ending war.
Wooden judge’s gavel lies next to a small globe on a reflective surface, symbolizing international justice and the global reach of legal decisions.

Suspend Your Judgment? The Role of International Courts in Ending Wars

When international courts intervene in active wars, they must contend with how (and whether) they can contribute to ending wars and shape the post-war aftermath. 
Demonstrators hold a protest in Houston, Texas, against a bill that would forbid Chinese nationals from buying properties in Texas, on February 11, 2023.

Alien-ating Asians in 21st-Century Land Laws

“Alien land laws” frame Asian land ownership as a national security threat despite minimal evidence, echoing the United States’ historical exclusionary policies.
Bronze Lady Justice statue with balanced scales stands beside a wooden judge’s gavel resting on a law book, in front of a stack of legal volumes on a dark background.

When the Warning Bells Ring: Judicial Awareness in War

By heeding the warning bells and embracing a do‑no‑harm principle, international courts can denounce abuse while preserving the credibility of international justice.
A protestor holds up a pair of handcuffs in front of a law enforcement officer as people gather during a demonstration and vigil outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, on January 28, 2026. (Photo by Moisés ÁVILA / AFP via Getty Images)

Congress Should Stop DHS’s Lawless Misuse of Mandatory Immigration Detention

The Fifth Circuit upheld an illegal ICE mass detention policy, deepening a legal and humanitarian crisis that Congress can and must fix.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures while walking away from the International Criminal Court building in The Hague during his first visit to the Netherlands on May 4, 2023.

Assessing the ICC’s Impact in Ukraine

An analysis of the ICC’s warrants against Putin and Lvova-Belova, exploring their real impact on diplomacy, deterrence, and justice in Ukraine.
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