Civilian-Military Relations
55 Articles
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.
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.
“Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”: The Legality of Statistical Proportionality
Israel's practice of statistical proportionality should be considered to violate the legal duty to take feasible precautions in attacks.
Trump’s Use of Federal Troops in Drug Raid Outside of Los Angeles: An Alarming Escalation
"An alarming escalation of the president's efforts to use the military as a domestic police force. Based on currently available information, it appears to be illegal, as well"
Posse Comitatus Act Meets the President’s “Protective Powers”: What’s Next in Newsom v. Trump
"Congress has been far more clear than is widely believed about what its view is..."
The Just Security Podcast: The Situation in Los Angeles and the U.S. Military
An expert discussion with audience Q&A on the events in Los Angeles, the federalization of the National Guard, and use of U.S. Marines.
June 12 YouTube Live Event: The Situation in Los Angeles and the U.S. Military
A public event including audience Q&A on pressing legal and policy issues at stake.
How the Pentagon Personnel Firings Threaten Our Apolitical Military
This unprecedented purge of the nation’s top brass suggests that Trump may attempt to fill these roles with officers he perceives as loyal.
As Ukraine Struggles for Troops, Its Constitutional Court Considers the Rights of Conscientious Objectors
A court case shows the complexity of weighing a constitutional guarantee against the obligation to protect the State in war.
Much Ado About Nothing: Recent Changes to Department of Defense Directive 5240.01
Recent changes to this Defense Department directive do not reflect any change in policy and provide no new authority to deploy the military domestically or to use lethal force…
Lessons from Around the World: Engaging ‘Pillars of Support’ to Uphold and Expand Democracy
Cross-partisan movements that defeated far-right autocrats in Brazil and Poland demonstrate that crucial groups can propel democratic success.
The Anonymous Military Leaders with the Weight of the Election on Their Shoulders
The legal and ethical frameworks that senior civilian and military leaders need to consider.