Introduction

Judges under Stress: Institutions, ideology and resistance

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.2293

Keywords:

institutions, judicial ideology, judicial resistance, judicial resilience, path dependence

Abstract

This issue examines the evolving discourse surrounding judicial independence and the rule of law, mainly, but not only in Central and Eastern European countries facing authoritarian challenges. This introduction emphasizes the importance of examining specific judiciaries, their histories, and ideological perception of judges. It presents outcomes from the Judges under Stress research project and its final conference at the University of Oslo in November 2022. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it investigates institutional path dependence, judicial ideology, and judicial resistance across various countries. The research addresses why courts are a focus for those attacking liberal democracy, how judges perceive their role in the state power system, and whether they have a right or duty to contradict legislation. This issue aims to contribute to understanding the challenges that judiciaries face in maintaining independence and upholding the rule of law in the face of authoritarian pressures.

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Author Biography

Peter Čuroš, Nomos: Centre for International Research on Law, Culture and Power, Jagiellonian University in Kraków

Nomos: Centre for International Research on Law, Culture and Power based at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, previously adjunct at the Polish Academy of Sciences, in the project of NCN (2021/41/B/HS5/01455), and postdoktor at the University of Oslo in the project Judges under Stress. Email: curos.peter@gmail.com

References

Bojarski, L., 2025. Judicial Resistance: missing part of judicial independence? The case of Poland and beyond. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1893 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1893

Cardinal, M.C., 2025. A case study of judicial resistance in northern Syria after the March revolution of 2011. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/1901 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/1901

Chia, E.A., 2025. Authoritarian constitutionalism, judicial capture, or the ambivalence of modern law: The case of the Chilean Constitutional Tribunal. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1903 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1903

Fleck, Z., 2025. Subordination, conformity and alignment: Lack of professional community. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1896 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1896

Graver, H.P., 2025. On judges when the rule of law is under attack. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1929 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1929

Halliday, T., 2025. Judges under stress: Legal complexes and a sociology of hope. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1895 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1895

Laur, M., 2025. Applying old tools to new challenges: The necessary adaptation of the French and ECtHR judges to emergency as a new paradigm of government. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1891 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1891

Mazúr, J., 2025. Judges under corruption stress: Lessons from leaked files about corruption in Slovakia. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1902 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1902

Steuer, M., 2025. Towards understanding constitutional court resilience vis-à-vis autocratization: An institutionalist approach. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1897 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1897

Sunnqvist, M., 2025. A judge must not be influenced by fear: Must a judge be brave? The duty of judges to defend judicial independence and the rule of law. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1875 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1875

Tacik, P., 2025. Subject, sovereign, Antigone: Judicial subjectivity and determination of the law. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1900 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1900

Techet, P., 2025. The role of the judiciary: Interpreting vs creating law – or how Hans Kelsen justified “judicial activism”. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1919 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1919

Widłak, T., 2025. Judicial resistance and the virtues. Oñati Socio-Legal Series [online], 15(2-this issue). Available at: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1876 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1876

Published

01-04-2025

How to Cite

Čuroš, P. (2025) “Introduction : Judges under Stress: Institutions, ideology and resistance”, Oñati Socio-Legal Series, 15(2), pp. 354–368. doi: 10.35295/osls.iisl.2293.