Litigation

The following publications were published under the auspices of the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School prior to July 2025. 

• Brief on behalf of the Mexican Bar Association (Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, A.C.) by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School
  The SLS Rule of Law Impact Lab and the Mexican Bar Association filed an amicus curiae brief before the Mexican Supreme Court in lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the judicial reform that would replace nearly 7000 sitting judges with those elected by popular vote. The brief argues that the reform violates Mexico’s international human rights obligations. The challenged judicial reform violates international standards relating to participation in public affairs, as well as those relating to judicial independence and due process. 
  
  Date Released: November 4, 2024
   
• Brief on behalf of Frank La Rue by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School
  On June 19th, the Stanford Rule of Law Impact Lab respectfully shared the reasons why the disciplinary proceedings and sanctions imposed on Prosecutor Rafael Ernesto Vela violate Peru’s obligations under Articles 8 and 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This brief was submitted on behalf of Frank La Rue, the former U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the
  Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression. 
  
  Date Released: June 19, 2024
   
• Brief on behalf of Article 19-Mexico by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School
  The SLS Rule of Law Impact Lab and Article 19-Mexico submitted an international law amicus brief in the first case before the Mexican Supreme Court to address the liability of internet intermediaries like Google for content posted online by third parties. The brief argues that affirming the lower court sanctions imposed on Google for not removing online content at the request of a third party, with neither a law nor a court order requiring such removal, and without any consideration of the right to freedom of expression on the internet, would set a troubling precedent. It would violate the free expression provisions of Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, while empowering financially-motivated private corporations like Google to act as censoring authorities without required safeguards of transparency, due process, and accountability. 
  
  Date Released: January 12, 2024
   
• Brief of Mexican Bar Association Filed by Stanford Law School Rule of Law Impact Lab
  This amicus curiae brief was filed by the Stanford Law School Rule of Law Impact Lab on behalf of the Mexican Bar Association before the Mexican Supreme Court in the pending lawsuit challenging legislation (also known as “Plan B”) undermining the independence of Mexico's highly regarded Instituto Nacional Electoral (National Electoral Institute) or INE. The brief underscores the Court's role in protecting Mexico's democracy. It also argues that the legislation violates Mexico's international obligations related to the democratic principle, the right to vote and to participate in the conduct of public affairs through free and fair elections; Mexico's international obligation to adopt the necessary measures to give effect to such rights; and Mexico's international obligation to guarantee the independence of electoral management bodies.  
  
  Date Released: May 26, 2023
   
• Brief on behalf of Ambassador Stephen McFarland filed by the SLS Rule of Law Impact Lab before the Guatemalan Constitutional Court
  Former U.S. Ambassador Stephen McFarland has urged Guatemala’s Constitutional Court to protect democracy and the rule of law, in a brief filed on his behalf today by the Rule of Law Impact Lab at Stanford Law School (SLS). In August 2023, anti-corruption campaigner Bernado Arévalo and his party, Semilla, won the general elections in Guatemala. Since that time, however, legal maneuvers by the incumbent administration are apparently trying to prevent him and his party from taking office. 
  
  Date Released: November 30, 2023