by Eric Surber
Judicature International (2024) | An online-only publication
Cover Photo: The Court of Final Appeal Building, Hong Kong (Wikimedia, Creative Commons)
In June 2024, three foreign judges announced their resignation from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, the territory’s top court, and other foreign judges have been encouraged to resign following the conviction of 14 pro-democracy protestors. Since the territory’s return to China in 1997, it has remained under common law through a “one country, two systems” arrangement. This arrangement means that the powers of the court are not absolute: The court’s common law decisions can be overturned by the Chinese government through a process known as an “interpretation.” Learn more »
China 🇨🇳
A Chinese court found activists Sophia Huang Xueqin, an independent journalist known for her role in China’s #MeToo movement, and Wang Jianbing, a labor activist, guilty on charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” according to supporters. (The Washington Post, 6/14/2024) Keep Reading »
Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Three judges have resigned from the territory’s top court, citing rule of law concerns following the conviction of 14 democracy activists on May 30 for “subversion.” Legal experts have for some time now warned about the city’s degraded rule of law in the wake of laws enacted by Beijing. (BBC, 6/11/2024) Keep Reading »
Niger 🇳🇪
Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has been stripped of his immunity by the State Court of Niamey, a move that signals the ruling junta will launch criminal proceedings against him. Bazoum’s lawyers said he and his wife had never been brought before a magistrate. (Reuters, 6/14/2024) Keep Reading »
Russia 🇷🇺
Evan Gershkovich, the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War, will stand trial in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg after prosecutors formally accused him of spying for the CIA. (CNN, 6/13/2024) Keep Reading »
South Africa 🇿🇦
The party led by South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma asked the country’s highest court to stop the newly elected national assembly from sitting for the first time on June 14. (BBC, 6/11/2024) Keep Reading »
Switzerland 🇨🇭
Swiss politicians have rejected a landmark climate ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), raising fears that other polluting countries may follow suit. Swiss parliament’s lower house voted in June to disregard the ECtHR’s landmark ruling, arguing that the judges had overstepped their bounds and that Switzerland had done enough. (The Guardian, 6/12/2024) Keep Reading »
United Nations 🌐
An inquiry by a United Nations-backed commission has found that Israel and Palestinian groups committed war crimes in the war in Gaza, and accused Israel of “crimes against humanity.” (Al Jazeera, 6/12/2024) Keep Reading »
United States 🇺🇸
Senate Republicans blocked an effort by Democrats to quickly pass Supreme Court ethics and transparency legislation they had pushed forward in the wake of disclosures about justices taking unreported gifts and travel and other ethical issues surrounding the high court. The unsuccessful outcome was predetermined, but represented an effort by Senate Democrats to show they were pressing the case against the court. (The New York Times, 6/12/2024) Keep Reading »
