Symposium and book presentation on responses to the threats to the judiciary's independence

On Wednesday February 5th, Tilburg Law School and the T.M.C. Asser Institute have launched the first volume of the European Yearbook of Constitutional Law (T.M.C. Asser Press). This volume investigates adequate responses to threats to the judiciary’s independence both in the Netherlands and beyond. Kees Sterk, Vice President of the Dutch Council for the Judiciary and President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary, delivered the keynote speech in which he discussed the topic of the book, focusing in particular on how threats to judicial independence can best be addressed. You can read the full transcription of his keynote speech here. 

Pressure on the judiciary
In countries around the world there is political criticism and pressure on the judiciary, against which the usual guarantees for independence seem to be unable to provide adequate protection. A convincing and effective response to threats to the judiciary’s independence requires a detailed and precise analysis of the judiciary’s constitutional safeguards and limits. This is the aim of the volume Judicial Power: Safeguards and Limits in a Democratic Society, that was presented in The Hague. 

Geert Vervaeke, dean of Tilburg Law School, opened the event. Co-editor Ernst Hirsch Ballin introduced the European Yearbook of Constitutional Law series, while co-editor Gerhard van der Schyff introduced the topic of the first volume. The keynote speech was followed by a round table with experts in the field, moderated by co-editor Maarten Stremler, and a general Q & A session with the audience. You can find the full programme here.

About the European Yearbook of Constitutional Law (EYCL)
The EYCL is an annual publication initiated by the Department of Public Law and Governance at Tilburg University and devoted to the study of constitutional law. It aims to provide a forum for in-depth analysis and discussion of new developments in the field, both in Europe and beyond. The theme of the second volume is ‘The City in Constitutional Law’.