From the economy and crime to reproductive rights and climate change, Scripps News is delving into the issues that matter most to voters leading up to the summer’s presidential nominating conventions. This week, we are focusing on the future of democracy.
A recent report from the World Justice Project examines how the rule of law influences democracy globally. In its 2023 report, it highlights “a majority of countries experiencing backsliding in the rule of law, characterized by executive overreach, diminishing human rights, and justice systems failing to meet people’s needs.”
The United States is ranked 26th on the global scale, with a slight decrease in its overall score compared to the previous year.
The report acknowledges the challenge of defining the rule of law and uses four principles – Accountability, just law, open government, and accessible and impartial justice – to measure it.
Many Americans are currently focused on the justice system following a recent Supreme Court ruling granting former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecutions for official acts during their tenure. This decision is likely to delay any trial against former President Trump regarding accusations of election interference.
In response to controversial statements made by former President Trump towards Representative Liz Cheney, his campaign has accused the House January 6th Committee of engaging in political persecution against him.
To explore how these developments impact 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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