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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2,994 Articles
General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Iran's Head of the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace division, looks at debris from a downed US drone reportedly recovered within Iran's territorial waters and put on display by the Revolutionary Guard in the capital Tehran on June 21, 2019.

Self-Defense in International Law: What Level of Evidence?

With the question of whether Iran's actions justify the use of force, the issue of evidence is once again at the forefront of international debate. So, how much evidence does a…
People gather in in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as decisions are handed down on June 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators protest against adding a citizenship question to the census, and hold signs reading, “Count me in.”

Principle Over Pretext: The Supreme Court Isn’t Buying What Wilbur Ross Is Selling

In a ruling that has surprised many legal observers, the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, dealt the Trump administration a major setback to its efforts…
The detainee hospital's operating room is seen in Camp Delta which is part of the U.S. military prison for 'enemy combatants' on June 26, 2013 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Deprivation and Despair: The Crisis of Medical Care at Guantánamo

The Center for Victims of Torture, along with Physicians for Human Rights, released a joint report today finding that Guantánamo’s medical care system has long been broken in…
Side-by-side photos of Trump and Donaldson

Annie Donaldson is Not the President’s “Alter Ego”

It could almost be a bar exam question. Under the Executive Branch theory that the president’s senior aides are “absolutely immune” from appearing before Congress, which…
A person walks through the remains of the Al-Senidar Factory Complex in Sana’a, Yemen after a September 2016 airstrike involving a UK-made Raytheon-manufactured bomb destroyed large parts of the factory complex and damaged at least one house nearby.

U.K. Court Nixes Saudi Arms Sales–What it Means for the US and Other EU Countries

The court ruled, in essence, that in making decisions on arms sales, the U.K. government could no longer ignore uncomfortable facts. The result also could provide guidance to other…
Supreme Court Justices process from the Supreme Court to Westminster Abbey on October 1, 2013 in London, England. The start of the legal year is marked with a traditional religious service and procession from Westminster Abbey.

When Constitutional Law and Government Hacking Collide: A Landmark U.K. Ruling Is Relevant on Both Sides of the Pond

The U.K. Supreme Court's landmark judgment in R (Privacy International) v Investigatory Powers Tribunal and others sets an important precedent for oversight of questions of law…
The end of a section of the border wall stands on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico border, with Tijuana in the background, on April 3, 2019 in Otay Mesa, California. U.S.

Journalist Watchlist Raises Specter of Civil Rights-Era Secret Surveillance

Throughout his campaign and now his presidency, historians have drawn parallels between President Trump’s treatment of the news media and the Nixon White House’s efforts to…
Papers with the words "Confidential" and "Secret" written across.

Balancing the Law and Reporting: Reflections on the Assange Indictment and What It Means for Journalists

The superseding indictment of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has again sent First Amendment guardians to the ramparts, when what’s needed is a calm discussion of what threat…
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L’Affaire d’Assange: Why His Extradition May Be Blocked

The Department of Justice’s release of a superseding indictment accusing Julian Assange of numerous Espionage Act violations has stirred grave concern among defenders of a free…
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) speaks as House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other House Democrats listen during a news conference in front of the U.S. Capitol June 20, 2108 in Washington, DC.

The Next Wave of Congressional Subpoena Litigation: Oversight Power vs. Executive Privilege

The next phase of Congress’ trying to enforce its supboenas in court is getting underway. Why the litigation over executive privilege is about to get ... . complicated, and how…
Side by side photos of William Barr and Robert Mueller

A Side-by-Side Comparison of Barr’s vs. Mueller’s Statements about Special Counsel Report

"Some of the differences involve near complete contradictions—in other words Mueller’s statement and Barr’s statements cannot both be true."
Julian Assange leaves after speaking to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador on May 19, 2017 in London, England.

Assange May Have Committed a Crime, But the Espionage Act Is the Wrong Law to Prosecute

Is Wikileaks leader Julian Assange a journalist? If journalism is a profession, it is because, like other professions, it has standards and a code of ethics. As an example, a journalist…
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