by Eric Surber
Judicature International (2024) | An online-only publicationCover Photo: The Court of Justice of the European Union (CEJU) in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (Photo credit: CEJU website)
The European Union’s judicial system, called the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), rules on matters of EU law to ensure that laws are applied consistently across member nations. The CJEU’s supreme court, called the European Court of Justice (ECJ), can issue rulings at the request of courts from member nations. For example, this month, the Supreme Administrative Court of Austria asked the ECJ to rule in a case brought by two Afghan women who were refused refugee status. The CJEU’s expansive campus, including the iconic towers pictured above, allows for centralized operations in Luxembourg. Click here to read more about the CJEU.
Afghanistan 🇦🇫
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that gender and nationality alone are “sufficient” for a country to grant asylum to Afghan women. The ECJ ruled that discriminatory measures adopted by the Taliban towards women “constitute acts of persecution” justifying the recognition of refugee status. (Al Jazeera, 10/4/2024) Keep Reading »
Belarus 🇧🇾
Lithuania referred the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, members of his government, security officials, and military officers to the International Criminal Court, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by forcing their own people to flee the country. (AP News, 9/30/2024) Keep Reading »
Canada 🇨🇦
Canada’s highest court heard arguments on when a young person can be considered an adult for sentencing purposes. The result may reshape how Canada sentences youth and could set an example for other western countries to follow. (AP News, 10/15/2024) Keep Reading »
Mexico 🇲🇽
Mexico’s Supreme Court agreed to consider a constitutional challenge to the controversial judicial overhaul enacted last month that will move the country over the next few years to a system of popularly elected judges. With eight votes in favor and three against, the high court declared itself competent to rule whether the reform affects the independence of the courts, opening the door to challenges against the overhaul. (AP News, 10/3/2024) Keep Reading »
Romania 🇷🇴
Romania’s Constitutional Court on Saturday disqualified Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă, a far-right politician known for her pro-Russian views, from participating in the upcoming 2024 presidential elections. The decision has reignited concerns regarding the country’s electoral integrity and democratic values. (JURIST News, 10/7/2024) Keep Reading »
Tunisia 🇹🇳
Tunisian President Kais Saied was reelected on Oct. 7, securing more than 90 percent of the vote, according to the country’s election commission. Experts say that the Tunisian presidential election was neither free nor fair. (The Washington Post, 10/7/2024) Keep Reading »
United States 🇺🇸
U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges on lower courts do not have to publicly disclose when they dine or stay at someone’s personal residence, even one owned by a business entity, under a revised ethics rule. The amended policy was issued by the U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committee on Financial Disclosure, which sets rules followed by the nine justices and other federal judges. Critics said the move diluted ethics requirements. (The Washington Post, 9/24/2024) Keep Reading »
The Oct. 2024 Global Judicial News Report was compiled and written by Judicature’s web editor Eric Surber.