The Meaning, Measuring, and Mattering of the Rule of LawPublished in the November 2019 rule of law issue of the Department of Justice Journal of Federal Law and Practice, "The Meaning, Measuring, and Mattering of the Rule of Law" explores the WJP's eight defining rule of law factors measured in the WJP Rule of Law Index—and why the rule of law matters to policymakers and citizens. Learn more in the article introduction below and click through to read the full article co-authored by WJP Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen and WJP Chief Engagement Officer Ted Piccone.

Respect for the rule of law in all its dimensions is critical to the fair administration of justice, public order, and protection of fundamental freedoms. It is also increasingly understood to be a vital ingredient for effective progress on a number of other economic and social policy fronts. Yet around the world, the concept of rule of law is being contested, manipulated, and weakened by a slew of direct and indirect pressures.

In this context, this article seeks to present a comprehensive definition of the rule of law based on universal principles and explain how it is being measured through quantitative surveys of legal experts and representative households in 128 countries. It then summarizes the survey data, highlighting the United States’ record, and sets forth why it matters to policymakers and citizens.
 

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Otomí spiritual leader Lucina Hernández Reyes leads a walk in a forest with community leaders in San Miguel Almaya, Capulhuac

As part of a multidimensional project funded by the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, WJP has produced a new report that seeks to increase the visibility of Indigenous mediation programs. It comes as a growing number of governments, donors, and communities are embracing a paradigm shift to people-centered justice. That global movement prioritizes identifying people’s legal needs and fostering accessible solutions to address them, rather than primarily investing in established institutions that are missing the mark. 

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WJP Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen speaking at the National Judicial College's March conference

Authoritarianism and weakened justice systems continue to erode the rule of law globally–but not universally. Taking cues from the communities resisting these trends can pave the road forward, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen. On March 13, Andersen addressed judicial, legal, and academic leaders at the National Judicial Conference’s symposium on “Democracy’s Last Line of Defense: Preserving an Independent Judiciary.”     

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Alejandro Gonzalez Arreola addresses a panel of experts at WJP Mexico's Open Justice Metric launch

The World Justice Project (WJP) is pleased to announce that WJP Mexico Country Office Director Alejandro González Arreola has been named the global organization’s next Chief Engagement Officer. In his new Washington-D.C.-based role, Alejandro will build, strengthen, and support WJP’s global network of rule of law stakeholders; lead global policy engagement, advocacy initiatives, and campaigns on rule of law topics; and spearhead WJP’s work to advance the rule of law through strategic convenings, including the World Justice Forum.  

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