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.
3,152 Articles
New UN Special Rapporteur’s Report Underscores Risks of Abusive Counterterrorism
A report from Ben Saul, the new UN expert on counterterrorism and Human Rights, outlines his priorities for the coming years.
Is Secret Law the Solution to an Overbroad Surveillance Authority?
Congress can legislate both responsibly and openly, as long as the administration declassifies certain information that is already in the public domain.
The Right to a Unanimous Verdict and the Jury Instructions in People v. Trump
In The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, Justice Juan Merchan issued a set of jury instructions—55 pages in length. Merchan permitted the jury to convict based…
“True Threats” and the Difficulties of Prosecuting Threats Against Election Workers
On August 17th, 2022, ten election workers were conducting primary early voting at the Sunrise Senior Center in Broward County, Florida. Six or seven voters were at the center…
With Watershed Election, Claudia Sheinbaum Must Address Mexico’s Human Rights Crisis
Winning the most votes ever and controlling Congress and most state legislatures, the first woman to hold the office will have the power.
Rebel Laws in Conflict: From Law-Taking to Law-Making and Law-Adapting
While legislating is traditionally seen as a role of the State, armed groups impose “rebel law” over ~64 million people in contested regions.
Open Source AI: The Overlooked National Security Imperative
The AI-driven world of the future will be highly dependent on the widespread availability of open source models.
Clowns, Reverse Boycotts, and Involuntary Walkathons: How Communities are Making Political Violence Backfire
Across the US, community action is raising the costs of political violence while strengthening pro-democracy norms and behaviors.
A Manhattan Jury Has Placed a Question Mark on the Trump Presidency
Through the jury instructions, the falsified records became inseparable from what prosecutors described as a “subversion of democracy.”
The Nuts and Bolts of Enforcing AI Guardrails
More work is needed to ensure U.S. federal agencies have the resources to implement essential AI safeguards.
Why Trump v. Anderson Undermines State Efforts to Hijack Immigration Enforcement
Faithful application of the Supreme Court’s federalism principles should doom Texas’s attempt to seize control of national immigration policy.
What to Expect in the Closings at the Trump Trial
A detailed account of the paths that the prosecution and defense can and will likely take, based on a meticulous account of the trial record.