A Global Judicial News Report: May 2026

The Constitutional Court of South Africa, pictured above, recently ruled that asylum seekers whose claims have already been rejected cannot submit repeat applications. Read more below. (Credit: iStock: Jacek_Sopotnicki)

In the News

International Courts 🌐

International Criminal Court (ICC)

ICC Prosecutors Say Libyan Suspect Was Notorious Torturer

The ICC held hearings involving Libyan militia commander Khaled Mohamed Ali Al Hishri, who was accused of torture, rape, murder, and crimes against humanity. The former commander at the Mitiga prison was known as a “ruthless torturer” and nicknamed the “Angel of Death” by detainees. This case is one of the first major Libyan ICC court proceedings. (Reuters, 5/19/26) Keep Reading »

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

UN Backs World Court Climate Opinion; U.S. Among Few to Oppose

The UN General Assembly voted to support an ICJ advisory opinion that countries have a legal obligation to combat climate change and reduce fossil fuel use. The United States was among a small group of countries opposing the regulation. (Reuters, 5/20/26) Keep Reading »

Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦

War Criminal Ratko Mladić’s Jail Release Request Denied

A UN war crimes court denied former Bosnian Serb general Radko Mladić’s request for early prison release due to health issues. Mladić is serving a life sentence for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed during the wars in ex-Yugoslavia in 1992-95. Judges ruled that he is receiving adequate medical care in The Hague. (BBC, 5/15/26) Keep Reading »

Hungary 🇭🇺

Unprecedented Ruling Finds Hungary’s Anti-LGBTQ Laws in Breach of EU Values

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Hungary’s 2021 anti-LGBTQ law breaches EU law and fundamental democratic values by marginalizing individuals. The 2021 law restricted LGBTQ-related content in schools, media, and advertised this under the guise of “child protection.” (BBC, 4/21/26) Keep Reading »

Moldova 🇲🇩

Europe ‘Clarifies’ How Human Rights Apply to Migrants in Bid to Stave Off Populists

European governments adopted the “Chișinău Declaration” to clarify how the European Convention on Human Rights applies in migration cases, specifically to deportation and asylum. Critics warned that the declaration could pressure the European Court of Human Rights to interpret migrant protections more narrowly, thereby weakening them, while expanding states’ discretion over removals. (Politico, 5/15/26) Keep Reading »

Serbia 🇷🇸

European Legal Experts Tell Serbia to Improve Judicial Laws

The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission warned that Serbia’s January 2026 judicial reforms risk undermining judicial independence and prosecutorial autonomy. The laws expand the powers of court presidents and weaken safeguards for prosecutors handling organized crime cases. The Commission urged Serbia to amend the laws and warned that failure to address concerns could risk Serbia’s EU accession process. (Reuters, 4/24/26) Keep Reading »

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Lord Justice Snowden Appointed to UK Supreme Court

The UK government announced that King Charles III approved the appointment of Lord Justice Richard Snowden to the United Kingdom Supreme Court following the recommendation of an independent judicial selection commission. (Irish Legal News, 5/1/26) Keep Reading »

Asia

China 🇨🇳

Chinese Court Rules Firms Can’t Lay Off Workers on AI Grounds

A Hangzhou court held that companies cannot lawfully fire employees because artificial intelligence can perform their jobs more efficiently. The court found that a tech company illegally dismissed a worker after automating parts of his role. (Fortune, 5/3/26) Keep Reading »

Philippines 🇵🇭

Philippines Top Court Rejects Bid to Block Arrest of Senator Wanted by ICC

The Philippine Supreme Court rejected Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s request to block his arrest over an International Criminal Court warrant. Dela Rosa is wanted for alleged crimes against humanity in connection to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. He has reportedly gone into hiding as Philippine authorities attempt to enforce the ICC warrant. (Al Jazeera, 5/20/26) Keep Reading »

Africa

South Africa 🇿🇦

South Africa’s Top Court Bars Repeat Asylum Applications

The Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that asylum seekers whose claims have already been rejected cannot submit repeat applications. The judges noted that permitting unlimited repeat applications could undermine deportation enforcement and burden the asylum system. However, critics argue that the ruling may weaken protections for refugees who are fleeing newly emerging dangers in their countries. (BBC, 5/12/26) Keep Reading »

Americas

Brazil 🇧🇷

Brazil’s Senate Blocks Lula’s Supreme Court Nominee, First Rejection in 132 Years

Brazil’s Senate blocked President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s nomination of Solicitor General Jorge Messias to the Supreme Court. This marks the first time in more than 130 years that a Brazilian president’s Supreme Court nominee has been blocked by the Senate. (WTOP News, 4/29/26) Keep Reading »

Canada 🇨🇦

Canadian Supreme Court Rules Intimate Partner Violence Can Be Basis for Lawsuits

The Supreme Court of Canada issued a landmark ruling that recognized intimate partner violence as a separate civil violation. This allows survivors to sue abusers for damages based on patterns of coercive control, rather than isolated incidents of abuse. The court held that existing torts, such as assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress, failed to capture the full harms of domestic abuse. (CBC, 5/15/26) Keep Reading »

Venezuela 🇻🇪

Venezuela Tells World Court It Has No Jurisdiction in Dispute with Guyana Over Oil-Rich Territory

Venezuela rejected the World Court’s jurisdiction over its territorial dispute with Guyana over the Essequibo region. Guyana wants the court to confirm the border established in an arbitration between the former colony of British Guiana and Venezuela in 1899. Venezuela, however, is arguing that the matter should be resolved through direct negotiations under a 1966 agreement between the countries. (Reuters, 5/6/26) Keep Reading »

United States 🇺🇸

Trade Court Rules Trump’s Replacement Tariffs Illegal

The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that President Donald Trump’s “replacement” 10% global tariffs were unlawful because the administration failed to show the kind of severe balance-of-payments crisis required by the statute. (Politico, 5/7/26) Keep Reading »

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Abortion Pill Access by Mail to Continue

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily preserved nationwide access to the abortion pill mifepristone and allowed it to continue being prescribed through telemedicine and delivered by mail. (The New York Times, 5/14/26) Keep Reading »

The May Global Judicial News Report was compiled and written by Polina Solovyeva, a JD candidate at Duke Law School and a Student Editor for Judicature International.