The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy

The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy PDF Author: Brad Epperly
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192583654
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
This book argues that explaining judicial independence-considered the fundamental question of comparative law and politics-requires a perspective that spans the democracy/autocracy divide. Rather than seeking separate explanations in each regime context, in The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy, Brad Epperly argues that political competition is a salient factor in determining levels of de facto judicial independence across regime type, and in autocracies a factor of far greater import. This is because a full "insurance" account of independence requires looking not only at the likelihood those in power might lose elections but also the variable risks associated with such an outcome, risks that are far higher for autocrats. First demonstrating that courts can and do provide insurance to former leaders, he then shows via exhaustive cross-national analyses that competition's effects are far higher in autocratic regimes, providing the first evidence for the causal nature of the relationship. Epperly argues that these findings differ from existing case study research because in democratic regimes, a lack of political competition means incumbents target the de jure independence of courts. This argument is illustrated via in-depth case study of the Hungarian Constitutional Court after the country's 2010 "constitutional coup," and then tested globally. Blending formal theory, observational and instrumental variables models, and elite interviews of leading Hungarian legal scholars and judges, Epperly offers a new framework for understanding judicial independence that integrates explanations of both de jure and de facto independence in both democratic and autocratic regimes.

The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy

The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy PDF Author: Brad Epperly
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192583654
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book argues that explaining judicial independence-considered the fundamental question of comparative law and politics-requires a perspective that spans the democracy/autocracy divide. Rather than seeking separate explanations in each regime context, in The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy, Brad Epperly argues that political competition is a salient factor in determining levels of de facto judicial independence across regime type, and in autocracies a factor of far greater import. This is because a full "insurance" account of independence requires looking not only at the likelihood those in power might lose elections but also the variable risks associated with such an outcome, risks that are far higher for autocrats. First demonstrating that courts can and do provide insurance to former leaders, he then shows via exhaustive cross-national analyses that competition's effects are far higher in autocratic regimes, providing the first evidence for the causal nature of the relationship. Epperly argues that these findings differ from existing case study research because in democratic regimes, a lack of political competition means incumbents target the de jure independence of courts. This argument is illustrated via in-depth case study of the Hungarian Constitutional Court after the country's 2010 "constitutional coup," and then tested globally. Blending formal theory, observational and instrumental variables models, and elite interviews of leading Hungarian legal scholars and judges, Epperly offers a new framework for understanding judicial independence that integrates explanations of both de jure and de facto independence in both democratic and autocratic regimes.

The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy

The Political Foundations of Judicial Independence in Dictatorship and Democracy PDF Author: Brad Epperly
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780191880384
Category : Judicial independence
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
Why do political actors tolerate courts able to check their power? This book argues that judicial independence as electorally-induced 'insurance' is about the risks of losing power, risks that are higher in autocratic regimes. Using a mixed-methods approach, it develops a theory of both de facto and de jure independence across regime type.

Judicial Independence: Cornerstone of Democracy

Judicial Independence: Cornerstone of Democracy PDF Author: Shimon Shetreet
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004535098
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 633

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Book Description
This book is an academic continuation of the previous five volumes on judicial independence edited by Shimon Shetreet, with others: Jules Deschenes, Christopher Forsyth, Wayne McCormack, Hiram E. Chodosh and Eric Helland, all books were published by Brill Nijhoff: Judicial Independence: The Contemporary Debate (1985), The Culture of Judicial Independence: Conceptual Foundations and Practical Challenges (2012), The Culture of Judicial Independence: Rule of Law and World Peace (2014), The Culture of Judicial Independence in a Globalised World (2016), Challenged Justice: In Pursuit of Judicial Independence (2021). This volume offers studies by distinguished scholars and judges from different jurisdictions on numerous dimensions regarding the essential role of judicial independence in democracy. It includes analyses of basic constitutional principles and contemporary issues of judicial independence and judicial procces in many jurisdictions and analyses of international standarts of judicial independence and judicial ethics.

Judicial Independence in the Age of Democracy

Judicial Independence in the Age of Democracy PDF Author: Peter H. Russell
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
ISBN: 9780813920153
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description
This collection of essays by leading scholars of constitutional law looks at a critical component of constitutional democracy--judicial independence--from an international comparative perspective. Peter H. Russell's introduction outlines a general theory of judicial independence, while the contributors analyze a variety of regimes from the United States and Latin America to Russia and Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, Japan, and South Africa. Russell's conclusion compares these various regimes in light of his own analytical framework.

Judges and Democratization

Judges and Democratization PDF Author: B. C. Smith
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9781138682931
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Judiciaries must be politically impartial and immune from political interference if democracy is to be consolidated in countries in transition from authoritarian rule. Without an independent judiciary there can be no rule of law, and without the rule of law there can be no democracy. Judges and Democratization is based on the premise that democracy cannot be consolidated without the rule of law of which judicial independence is an indispensable part. It pays particular attention to the restraints placed upon judicial independence, and the reforms which are being applied, or remain to be adopted, in order to guard against the different kinds of interference which prevent judicial decisions being taken in a wholly impartial way. It examines the paradox of judicial activism arising from the independence endowed upon the judiciary by post-authoritarian constitutions. The book asks how, in the context of this endowed authority, such accountability can be made compatible with the preservation of judicial independence when the concept of an accountable, independent judiciary appears to be a contradiction in terms. This text will be of key interest to teachers and students of politics, comparative government/politics, combined politics and law, democracy and governance, human rights and democratization, and democratic development.

Challenged Justice: In Pursuit of Judicial Independence

Challenged Justice: In Pursuit of Judicial Independence PDF Author: Shimon Shetreet
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004421556
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 588

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Book Description
The book offers articles by senior jurists on important aspects of judicial independence and judicial process in many jurisdictions, including indicators of justice. It comes at the time of serious challenges to the judiciary, the rule of law and democracy.

Judges and Democratization

Judges and Democratization PDF Author: B. C. Smith
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1134827849
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Judiciaries must be politically impartial and immune from political interference if democracy is to be consolidated in countries in transition from authoritarian rule. Without an independent judiciary there can be no rule of law, and without the rule of law there can be no democracy. Judges and Democratization is based on the premise that democracy cannot be consolidated without the rule of law of which judicial independence is an indispensable part. It pays particular attention to the restraints placed upon judicial independence, and the reforms which are being applied, or remain to be adopted, in order to guard against the different kinds of interference which prevent judicial decisions being taken in a wholly impartial way. It examines the paradox of judicial activism arising from the independence endowed upon the judiciary by post-authoritarian constitutions. The book asks how, in the context of this endowed authority, such accountability can be made compatible with the preservation of judicial independence when the concept of an accountable, independent judiciary appears to be a contradiction in terms. This text will be of key interest to teachers and students of politics, comparative government/politics, combined politics and law, democracy and governance, human rights and democratization, and democratic development.

Judicial Dictatorship

Judicial Dictatorship PDF Author: William J. Quirk
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351510436
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
American society has undergone a revolution within a revolution. Until the 1960s, America was a liberal country in the traditional sense of legislative and executive checks and balances. Since then, the Supreme Court has taken on the role of the protector of individual rights against the will of the majority by creating, in a series of decisions, new rights for criminal defendants, atheists, homosexuals, illegal aliens, and others. Repeatedly, on a variety of cases, the Court has overturned the actions of local police or state laws under which local officials are acting. The result, according to Quirk and Birdwell, is freedom for the lawless and oppression for the law abiding. 'Judicial Dictatorship' challenges the status quo, arguing that in many respects the Supreme Court has assumed authority far beyond the original intent of the Founding Fathers. In order to avoid abuse of power, the three branches of the American government were designed to operate under a system of checks and balances. However, this balance has been upset. The Supreme Court has become the ultimate arbiter in the legal system through exercise of the doctrine of judicial review, which allows the court to invalidate any state or federal law it considers inconsistent with the constitution. Supporters of judicial review believe that there has to be a final arbiter of constitutional interpretation, and the Judiciary is the most suitable choice. Opponents, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln among them, believed that judicial review assumes the judicial branch is above the other branches, a result the Constitution did not intend. The democratic paradox is that the majority in America agreed to limit its own power. Jefferson believed that the will of the majority must always prevail. His faith in the common man led him to advocate a weak national government, one that derived its power from the people. Alexander Hamilton, often Jefferson's adversary, lacking such faith, feared "the amazing violence and turbulence of the democratic spirit." This led him to believe in a strong national government, a social and economic aristocracy, and finally, judicial review. This conflict has yet to be resolved. 'Judicial Dictatorship' discusses the issue of who will decide if government has gone beyond its proper powers. That issue, in turn, depends on whether the Jeffersonian or Hamiltonian view of the nature of the person prevails. In challenging customary ideological alignments of conservative and liberal doctrine, 'Judicial Dictatorship' will be of interest to students and professionals in law, political scientists, and those interested in U.S. history.

Democracy falling apart (Open Acces)

Democracy falling apart (Open Acces) PDF Author: Thomas Stadelmann
Publisher: Stämpfli Verlag
ISBN: 3727226552
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
Die Europäische Richtervereinigung EAJ beschäftigt sich seit Jahren mit der Situation der Justiz und des Rechtsstaates in Europa. Sie stellt mit grosser Sorge fest, dass die Unabhängigkeit der Justiz, die Gewaltenteilung und die Rule of Law in vielen Ländern keine Selbstverständlichkeit mehr sind. Ein Beispiel für diese negative Entwicklung – in ihrem Ausmass in diesem Jahrhundert einmalig – sind die Geschehnisse in der Türkei. Die Beiträge in diesem Buch stammen von Richterinnen und Richtern aus ganz Europa und von Juristinnen und Juristen aus der Türkei, welche über die Entwicklung in ihrem Land aus erster Hand berichten. Die Autoren aus der Türkei schreiben jeweils unter einem Pseudonym: Unter den heutigen Bedingungen können sie es nicht wagen, unter ihrem Namen offen Kritik an der rechtsstaatlichen Situation zu äussern: Bereits dieser Umstand alleine ist eine wichtige Aussage im Kontext des behandelten Themas. Die Beiträge wenden sich an Juristinnen und Juristen, Politikerinnen und Politiker, aber auch an alle anderen an Rechtsstaatlichkeit, gewaltenteiliger Demokratie und unabhängiger Justiz interessierte Leserinnen und Leser in ganz Europa – inklusive der Türkei – und in Übersee. Das Buch ist vielsprachig: Die Beiträge sind auf Englisch, Deutsch oder Französisch geschrieben; sie enthalten je eine Kurzzusammenfassung in Englisch, Französisch, Deutsch und Türkisch.

Can Courts be Bulwarks of Democracy?

Can Courts be Bulwarks of Democracy? PDF Author: Jeffrey K. Staton
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316516733
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description
This book argues that independent courts can defend democracy by encouraging political elites to more prudently exercise their powers.