Democracy & Rule of Law
Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis on threats and challenges to democracy and the rule of law in the United States and globally. Coverage includes analysis of the separation of powers, good governance, democratic backsliding, authoritarianism, judicial independence, freedom of the press and association, and accountability for rule of law violations.
Highlights:
One Week of Trump’s DC Takeover Attempt: An analysis of the president’s use of military, police, and security services in the nation’s capital
Detailed legal analysis of federalization of DC police and the deployment of Guard, DHS and other forces.
Timeline of Jeffrey Epstein-Ghislaine Maxwell Law Enforcement Failures (1996-2025)
A comprehensive timeline of the failure of federal law enforcement to address Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes.
Trump, the National Guard, and the District of Columbia: What You Need to Know
The president’s maximalist legal approach in deploying the military may well foreshadow broader use of the military in other American cities.
How to Truly Keep Washington, DC Safe: President Trump’s militarized approach undercuts what’s been working
The spectacle in DC is a warning: presidential authority is being stretched simply to grab power. History tells us that’s how liberty erodes.
The Human Costs of Systemic Corruption
When core functions of the state become warped into tools of personal enrichment or political control, ordinary people suffer. The poor and marginalized are hit hardest.
Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of Trump Administration Executive Actions
Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.
3,127 Articles
The APA Authorizes “Universal” Stays of Agency Action Under 5 U.S.C. § 705
For litigants seeking to move quickly against unlawful executive action, Section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act should be a powerful tool.
Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions
A public resource tracking all the legal challenges to the Trump administration's executive orders and actions.
Embracing the Purely Adjudicatory Administrative Agency: The Case for a Labor Court
The recent decision in SpaceX v. NLRB, finding the Board’s structure unconstitutional, heightens the urgency for those litigating like cases to reconsider their approach.
The Just Security Podcast: What Just Happened – Federalization of DC Law Enforcement, Legal Authorities and Updates
Brian Netter and Mark Nevitt join David Aaron to break down the legal and policy implication of the federalization of D.C. law enforcement.
Just Security Podcast: What Just Happened – Federalization of Law Enforcement in Washington DC
Carrie Cordero and Donell Harvin join David Aaron to discuss legal and policy considerations regarding federalization of law enforcement in DC.
Brazil’s Digital Sovereignty Is Under Attack: How Courts, Platforms, and Constitutional Law Are Redefining Democracy Online
At the heart of Brazil’s approach to digital constitutionalism is a legal framework that treats platform governance as essential to democracy.
In Congress, a Welcome, and Well-Executed, Next Step to Stop Trump’s Transfers to Torture
Six new bills demanding that the executive branch provide basic information about deportations from U.S. shores should pass unanimously.
Three Thorny Issues to Watch in Congressional Investigations
Amidst an escalation of interbranch tension, the authors explore three emerging legal issues affecting the law of congressional oversight and separation of powers.
The Trump Administration’s Use of State Power Against Media: Keeping Track of the Big Picture
Tracking the use of State power requires systematically identifying linkages between individual developments and broader trends. This graphic offers one method.
The Freedom of Information Act and Deteriorating Federal Transparency Infrastructure
Weakening FOIA does not merely impair public knowledge — it also reduces the likelihood that abuses will be detected and deterred.
Just Security’s Russia–Ukraine War Archive
A catalog of over 100 articles (many with Ukrainian translations) on the Russia Ukraine War -- law, diplomacy, policy options, and more.
Just Security’s Artificial Intelligence Archive
Just Security's collection of articles analyzing the implications of AI for society, democracy, human rights, and warfare.