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Articles on Judicial independence

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Political commentators have expressed concern that Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to appoint former staffers to a committee that helps select provincial judges could politicize the courts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Doug Ford’s political judicial appointments: Good or bad for justice and democracy?

Appointing individuals who may have links to the party in power is not necessarily troublesome, as long as the process emphasizes legal knowledge and fairness, and not partisan considerations.
Lifetime tenure has pushed the average age of judicial nominees down as presidents appoint younger justices in hopes they will serve for many decades. Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Should the Supreme Court have term limits?

Unlike in most countries, US Supreme Court justices enjoy life tenure. Some legal scholars believe that centuries-old custom, meant to protect judicial independence, no longer serves the public.
Peter Mutharika during his inauguration as the President of Malawi last May. A court has annnulled his election. Amos Gumulira/AFP via Getty Images

Will bold landmark election ruling improve Malawian democracy?

Will the same electoral commission, so heavily criticised in the court’s ruling, improve its capacity and arrange more credible elections?
Crowds protesting the forced retirement of judges, in front of Poland’s Supreme Court building, Warsaw. AP/Czarek Sokolowski

Poland’s judicial purge another step toward authoritarian democracy

With its attempt to purge the country’s courts of 40 percent of its judges, Poland’s right-wing ruling party passed another milestone on the path towards establishment of a one-party state.
A prison officer stands guard outside the Chief Magistrate’s court in Nairobi. Safeguarding reforms is key mandate for the in-coming Chief Justice. Noor Khamis/Reuters

Kenya’s new Chief Justice must press on with cleaning up the judiciary

Despite some criticism, the screening of 50-odd judges and nearly 300 magistrates was a remarkable achievement. But Kenya’s new Chief Justice has some cleaning up left to do.

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