From the economy and crime to reproductive rights and climate change, Scripps News is delving into the critical issues that matter to voters in the lead-up to the presidential nominating conventions this summer. This week, our focus is on the future of democracy.
A recent report from the World Justice Project examines how the rule of law impacts democracy globally. In its 2023 report, the organization identified a trend of rule of law backsliding in many countries, characterized by executive overreach, diminishing human rights, and justice systems that fail to meet people’s needs.
The United States is ranked 26th on the global list, with a slight decrease in its overall score compared to the previous year.
The report highlights four key principles for measuring the rule of law: accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible and impartial justice.
Recent events in the US, such as the Supreme Court ruling on former presidents’ immunity from criminal prosecutions for official acts and controversial statements by former President Trump, have thrust the workings of the justice system back into the spotlight.
As these developments shape the perception and evaluation of the rule of law, Scripps News interviews Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of the World Justice Project.
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