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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3,431 Articles

Fencing with Fourth Amendment: Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Chatrie Decision

Chatrie stands as an important but narrow reaffirmation of the Supreme Court’s determination not to let technology overwhelm all privacy expectations in the digital age.

The Handover of AI Standard-Setting

Providers, not regulators, are increasingly setting the standards against which their own AI systems are measured.
Secretary-General António Guterres stands at a podium on a dias, with screens flanking him also showing his address before an arc of desks and chairs in a soaring U.N. chamber.

Will States Address Disability Invisibility in the Crimes Against Humanity Convention?

Only two of 64 proposed amendments submitted by U.N. member States for a draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention enumerate disability as a specific protected category.
A view of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2026. The US Supreme Court on Thursday backed a Trump administration move to strip deportation protections from some 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians living in the United States. The conservative-dominated court, in a 6-3 ruling, said the Department of Homeland Security's decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants was not subject to judicial review.

Sanitized and Unreviewable: Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Mullin v Doe on Ending Temporary Protected Status for 1.3m Noncitizens

Leading immigration expert unpacks the Supreme Court's ruling on temporary protected status for Haitian and Syrian residents in U.S.
A man walks in front of the Supreme Court building at dusk.

Seeking Justice the Day After SCOTUS Killed the Alien Tort Statute

As surely as day follows night, survivors will continue their quest for justice and accountability. The Supreme Court’s decision marks the end of an era, but a new dawn awaits.
The Declaration on Independence as seen on aging paper.

Reflections from Today’s Judiciary on the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Many actions taken by the current administration echo the grievances laid out in the Declaration of Independence against King George III.
A conference room meeting with people seated around a long table, water bottles and notebooks in front of them, while two large screens at the front show a remote participant and a wider view of the discussion.

The Intersection of Sanctions and Corruption Symposium

Just Security and Perry World House bring together experts to examine how sanctions and anti-corruption policy interact and how to make accountability tools more effective.
Exterior view of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court Justices are expected to release opinions throughout the week.

In Blanche v. Lau, the Supreme Court Rewards the Solicitor General’s Bait-and-Switch at Green Card Holders’ Expense

Lawful permanent residents are left to wonder when it is safe to travel for business, family reasons, or pleasure without jeopardizing their status and day-to-day lives.
A police officer in a dark blue uniform, his back to the camera, wears a bulletproof vest reading INTERPOL, as he walks through an airy hall with light-colored flooring, a few white counters and a large green plant at the left of the image.

Why Interpol’s Member Nations Should Reject Its New Privileges and Immunities Agreement

The accord would make it easier for autocrats to abuse Interpol’s famous Red Notices and other mechanisms to persecute those seeking refuge abroad from repression at home.
Man is surrounded by policemen as he leaves a courtroom.

Corruption Sanctions Have Their Flaws. Impose Them Anyway.

Corruption sanctions may not break networks or force behavioral change. But as part of a broader diplomatic strategy, they protect U.S. systems and amplify reform efforts.
Guterres speaks at a podium in the massive General Assembly hall, on a large dais at the base of a gold backdrop stretching to the high ceiling, his image also projected on screens behind him, as member state representatives are seated at long rows of desks arrayed in front of the dais.

As U.N. Secretary-General Candidates Make Pitch to be Mediator-in-Chief, Will Peacebuilding End Up On the Cutting Room Floor?

A U.N. pivot back to conflict mediation, suggested in the secretary-general search, will only reap dividends if peacebuilding is high on the next leader's agenda.
Journalists line up with cameras on tripods in the foreground, facing an armored vehicle in the distance at the other end of what looks like a cement-paved alley.

As Governments Silence Critics During War, Writers Are Among the First to Pay the Price

Crackdowns on writers, culture, and free expression during war emerged as a key trend in PEN America's 2025 data for the latest annual Freedom to Write Index.
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