Podcast Series: IN THE ROBE: Voices from the Global Frontlines of Justice

?IN THE ROBE: Voices from the Global Frontlines of Justice

What does it take to uphold the rule of law when missile strikes threaten courthouses, political pressures attempt to bypass constitutional norms, or a backlogged court system leaves millions waiting for justice?

World Justice Project’s new podcast series,?In the Robe, brings hosts Ana Cardenas and Marta Basystiuk into conversation with groundbreaking judges and former chief justices from around the world. These candid conversations go behind the bench to reveal how judicial leaders protect fundamental human rights, embrace innovation, and rebuild public trust in times of extreme uncertainty.

Here are three powerful episodes you won’t want to miss:

1. Navigating Legal Pluralism & Judicial Courage in Malaysia

Featuring: Former Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat (Federal Court of Malaysia)

As Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice, Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat led the judiciary through intense public scrutiny, high-level corruption cases, and complex jurisdictional balances. In this episode, she reflects on why citizens should care about judicial independence.

Key Highlights: 

• Bridging Civil and Sharia Law:? How judges navigate the delicate balance between secular constitutional rights and religious courts without giving in to political or public sentiment.

• Threats to Independence:? Why judicial independence must start at the appointment process, and why bypassing statutory oversight poses grave risks.

• Reconnecting with the Public:? Her initiative organizing “Up Close and Personal” meet-and-greet sessions at the Palace of Justice to explain landmark rulings in layman’s terms.

2. How Ukraine’s Supreme Court Upholds the Law in Wartime

Featuring:?Justice Viktor Prorok (Civil Cassation Court of the Supreme Court of Ukraine)

How does a nation’s court system function when courthouses are under active bombardment? Justice Viktor Prorok shares an extraordinary inside look at how Ukraine’s judiciary maintains the rule of law during a full-scale war, ensuring emergency state powers do not turn into arbitrary restrictions.

Key Highlights: 

• Operational Resilience:? Court relocations from frontline regions, electronic hearing systems, and keeping servers online with Starlink and generators during blackouts.

• AI Ethics in the Courtroom:? Where AI can assist judges versus why human moral accountability and legal reasoning can never be automated.

• The Path to EU Integration:? Transparency, integrity screening, and institutional reforms needed for European accession.

3. Confidentiality, Power Dynamics & Mediation in Kenya

Featuring:? Judge Jacqueline Kamau (High Court of Kenya)

With roughly 105 High Court judges serving a nation of 55 million people, court backlogs can delay justice for years. High Court Judge Jacqueline Kamau—Vice Chair of the Gender Section of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association—explores the benefits and drawbacks of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and customary justice.

Key Highlights: 

• Preserving Relationships:? Why court rulings create winners and losers, while mediation yields consensual solutions that preserve family and business bonds.

• Protecting Women & Vulnerable Litigants:? How confidential out-of-court settlements protect individuals from public scrutiny and economic imbalances.

• Traditional Justice Systems:? Where they can help and where they are repugnant to justice and morality.

Stay Tuned

We’ll be releasing the second half of this series in the coming months, so if you enjoyed In the Robe?make sure to subscribe on?Spotify.