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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2,932 Articles
Illuminated building at night, with lit Christmas tree in front and wrought-iron gate

The International Court of Justice: A Bright Light in Dark Times

"When diplomacy has failed and arms are again resorted to, international law remains the last possible language between States."
Kyaw Moe Tun (left), new Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the United Nations, pays a courtesy call to Secretary-General António Guterres.

Democracies Must Stop Playing Games with Myanmar’s Representation at the United Nations

Member States that believe in human rights must take the necessary steps to give the Burmese people a voice at the United Nations.
Cambodian survivor of the infamous Tuol Sleng prison Chum Mey speaks to the media after the verdict to uphold the genocide and life sentence of ex-Khmer Rouge head of state Khieu Samphan at the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Phnom Penh on September 22, 2022.

The Politics of the ECCC: Lessons from Cambodia’s Unique and Troubled Accountability Effort

"For all its problems and shortfalls, the ECCC has managed to sentence a head of state for genocide. In a region where authoritarianism is on the rise, the significance of this…
Rows of American flags in front of the U.S. Capitol building.

The News Media’s “Democracy Beats” Won’t Beat Back Autocracy

To protect democracy, the press must do more than punish stories. It needs to collaborate, support unions, litigate, and improve diversity.
Woman in blue dress at podium with White House seal, American flags and zoom with many participants behind her

On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Reflections on Tribal Sovereignty in Haaland v. Brackeen

"As Indigenous people and allies celebrate and reflect, it is equally imperative to understand and champion both historical and contemporary issues – and to understand the ways…

US Reinvests in Ethnic Oligarchy in Bosnia, Abandoning Support for Integration

President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken, together with allies, should rethink Western Balkans policy based on first principles.
Supporters and Judges of Krakow Courts hold banners during a protest against an ongoing session of the Disciplinary Chamber of Poland's Supreme Court to consider the application of the National Public Prosecutor's Office for permission to detain and forcibly bring Judge Igor Tuleya in front of Krakow's Appeal Court on April 21, 2021 in Krakow, Poland. Igor Tuleya, who had been critical of changes to Poland's justice system, had become a symbol of the struggle for judicial independence in Poland. The EU had taken Poland to court over judicial independence concerns. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images)

Poland’s Judicial Reform Falls Short of EU Expectations, Complicating Cooperation Against Russia

Pres. Duda’s failure to reverse course on actions that increase tensions and decrease solidarity in Europe weakens their alliance with the US.
People waiting in line in foreground; spires of a Cambodian temple in background.

The ECCC Begins Winding Down: In Cambodia, a Hybrid Tribunal’s Hybrid Legacy

Constrained by domestic politics and with its final verdict delivered, the ECCC's legacy – like its nature – is a hybrid one.
Russian Federation Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey V. Lavrov speaks during the United Nations Security Council meeting at the United Nations Headquarters to discuss the conflict in Ukraine on September 22, 2022 in New York City.

The Case for Creating a Special Tribunal to Prosecute the Crime of Aggression Committed Against Ukraine (Part IV)

Discussing details for an international tribunal for aggression against Ukraine including outreach, victim participation, and more.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) (R-SC) listens as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (L) (D-CT) speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol May 10, 2022 in Washington, DC. Blumenthal and Graham introduced a Senate resolution affirming that the Senate views the actions of the Russian Federation, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin, as sponsoring acts of terrorism, and calls on the U.S. Secretary of State to designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

How Congress Should Designate Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism

A better approach would be for Congress to impose additional targeted sanctions on Russia, but not through the one-size-fits-all state sponsor of terrorism designation.
Ukrainian and Russian flags.

US Intervention in Ukraine v. Russia at the ICJ: A Q&A with Chimène Keitner

"The recent flurry of interventions shows that the ICJ proceeding continues to serve as a rallying point for Ukraine’s supporters."
Russian Federation Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey V. Lavrov speaks during the United Nations Security Council meeting at the United Nations Headquarters to discuss the conflict in Ukraine on September 22, 2022 in New York City.

The Case for Creating a Special Tribunal to Prosecute the Crime of Aggression Committed Against Ukraine

Discussing details for an international tribunal for aggression against Ukraine including outreach, victim participation, and more.
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