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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2,854 Articles
Two tall greyscale rectangles cast dark shadows representing the Twin Towers. Text reads, “How Perpetual War Has Changed Us: Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11”

Paradigm Shift: The Consequences of Choosing a War Path, and Leaving It

We owe it to the next generation to grapple now with the consequences of remaining at war -- as well as the consequences of choosing not to be -- lest we find ourselves reflexively…
Two tall greyscale rectangles cast dark shadows representing the Twin Towers. Text reads, “How Perpetual War Has Changed Us: Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11”

Crossing Back Over: Time to Reform Legal Culture and Legal Practice of the “War on Terror”

As the conflict has grown and changed, responsibility for these changes has too often been thrust on the shoulders of executive lawyers.
Salvadors Police officers stand guard in front of the Supreme Court of Justice in San Salvador, on May 2, 2021.

Islands of Advances in a Sea of Setbacks: Central American Rule of Law

The Biden administration’s promise to attack the root causes of migration from Central America just got harder to keep.
Journalists wearing face masks stand outside of the temporary courtroom set up on September 2, 2021, inside the Palais de Justice of Paris - Paris' courthouse, ahead of the November 13, 2015 Paris attacks' trial scheduled to be held on September 8, 2021. Some set up cameras.

France’s `V13′ Trial for the 2015 Paris Terror Attacks: Managing Victims’ Expectations

The trial poses unique challenges for its scale, nature, media attention, and the participation of more than 1,800 victims as “civil” parties.
Two tall greyscale rectangles cast dark shadows representing the Twin Towers. Text reads, “How Perpetual War Has Changed Us: Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11”

The Costs of 9/11’s Suspicionless Surveillance: Suppressing Communities of Color and Political Dissent

The domestic intelligence system has grown dramatically since 9/11, often targeting Muslims, people of color, and political movements. It's time to rethink the system.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid addresses a press conference in Kabul on September 7, 2021. Flags of the Taliban stand on both sides of the desk he sits at.

Between Legitimacy and Control: The Taliban’s Pursuit of Governmental Status

Recognition of a government involves calculations of both law and politics. What factors will influence States' response to the Taliban?
Two tall greyscale rectangles cast dark shadows representing the Twin Towers. Text reads, “How Perpetual War Has Changed Us: Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11”

In the “War on Terror,” What Did Rights Organizations Get Wrong?

A leading human rights lawyer raises provocative questions about track record of U.S. human rights organizations. An essay in advance of a live event on Thursday night to discuss…
Two tall greyscale rectangles cast dark shadows representing the Twin Towers. Text reads, “How Perpetual War Has Changed Us: Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11”

The Path Not Taken: Reimagining the Post-9/11 World

What would the world today look like if the US had responded to the 9/11 attacks with criminal law instead of through the lens of war?
A general view shows the Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS) cement plant in Jalabiya, some 30 kms from Ain Issa, in northern Syria, in February 19, 2018.

Corporate Criminal Liability for International Crimes: France and Sweden Are Poised To Take Historic Steps Forward

The growing trend seeking to hold corporations liable for their role in human rights abuses abroad is gaining new momentum.
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim Asad Ahmad Khan holds a press conference at the Ministry of Justice in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on August 12, 2021.

The International Criminal Court and Afghanistan

Here's how the ICC can advance justice in Afghanistan despite the Taliban takeover.
A prisoner paces in a gated indoor area before evening prayers at the "Gitmo" maximum security detention center on October 22, 2016 at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

What the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan Could Mean for Guantanamo Detainees and the Due Process Clause

The D.C. Circuit will soon consider the consequential question of whether the Due Process Clause applies to Guantanamo detainees.
Trump leaves the Manhattan Supreme Court where he serves on jury duty on August 17, 2015 in New York City. Reporters gather around him with cameras and microphones.

Why a Trump Lawsuit to “Protect” Executive Privilege Could Backfire

Trump may unintentionally invite the DC court and Justice Dept to consider whether the crime-fraud exception applies to his activities relating to Jan. 6.
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