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.

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3,161 Articles
FBI Director Robert Mueller III testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a oversight hearing on Capitol Hill December 14, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Mueller Hearing Risks Narrowing the Range of Impeachable Offenses

The congressional hearings will likely overlook the larger set of impeachable offences even though Mueller's report itself provides significant evidence of them.
A man walks across the seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at the lobby of the Original Headquarters Building at the CIA headquarters February 19, 2009 in McLean, Virginia.

Revamped Security Clearance Process Could Provide Leverage Over Those Who Punish Whistleblowers

The security clearance backlog is finally shrinking. This offers a special opportunity to protect embattled national security whistleblowers.

35 Questions for Congress to Ask Robert Mueller (+ Questions from Readers)

Former FBI (Rangappa), Justice Department and NSC (Geltzer), and Pentagon (Goodman) officials team up to suggest questions for Mueller.
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House Should Prepare Criminal Referral of A.G. Barr for Lying to Congress

Mueller’s testimony puts not only the President’s job and criminal liability on the line. Attorney General Barr is in jeopardy too.
US Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and US Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, look on during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 11, 2019.

Dear Dems: Make Mueller’s Testimony About 2020, Not 2016

Congressional Democrats are champing at the bit to have Robert Mueller recite, on live television, the past indiscretions of Donald Trump that Mueller documented at length in his…
President Donald Trump puts his hand on the shoulder of Sen. Jeff Sessions after introducing him before Sessions's swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House February 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stands behind Trump.

Presidential Abuse of Power Should Be Focus of Mueller Questioning

Instead of focusing on criminal conduct, the House must consider whether as president, Donald Trump abused his power or violated his oath of office.
Katherine Gun, a junior Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) official leaves Bow Street Magistrates court in London with her lawyer.

Iraq ‘Dirty Tricks’ Tale Gets Star Treatment, But Big Questions Remain

The dramatic but little-told story of a British intelligence whistleblower who tried to raise the alarm over a questionable spying campaign to bolster the cause for the Iraq War…
US President-elect Donald Trump and press secretary Hope Hicks on stage during a 'Thank You Tour 2016' rally on December 17, 2016 in Mobile, Alabama.

After Publishing Strong Evidence of Trump’s Campaign Finance Crimes, DOJ Closes Case Without Explanation

Every American should have an opportunity to scrutinize the complete body of evidence of Donald Trump’s campaign finance crimes, not just the now-public search warrant applications…
Hundreds of people gather in lower Manhattan for a "Lights for Liberty" protest against migrant detention camps and the impending raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this coming weekend in various cities on July 12, 2019 in New York City.

The Supreme Court Just Made It Easier to Conceal Abuse of Migrant Detainees

The U.S. Supreme Court has reversed a half-century of precedent on citizens’ rights to know what their government is doing, by making it more difficult for the public to probe…
A person typing on a keyboard

Outside the Beltway: An Experiment on Human Rights & Potential CLOUD Act Agreements

What questions remain in assessing the human rights concerns of potential CLOUD Act agreements? How would executive branch lawyers approach these questions?
Special Counsel Robert Mueller makes a statement about the Russia investigation on May 29, 2019 at the Justice Department in Washington, DC.

Five Takeaways from Talking Feds’ Mueller Preview Panel

As we prepare for the upcoming congressional testimony of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, we thought it would be helpful to tune into the Talking Feds podcast, which taped a series…
Camden County Police Department officer Jose Delvalle, Louis Sanchez and Vidal Riverago out on patrol in Camden, New Jersey, on May 24, 2017.

Policing, U.S. Style: With Little Idea of What Really Works

Until we better analyze police strategies, policies, and technologies, and learn, in a quantifiable way, what works and what doesn’t, we are not truly advancing public safety.…
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