Rule of Law Initiative

United States Courts: Overview - Rule of Law

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• Description: The U.S. Courts provides not only a general understanding of the rule of law in this source they provide a lesson plan with accompanying resources, questions, talking points, videos, and activities to take this into the classroom or with peers to discuss and better understand the rule of law.
• Lesson plan PDF

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• Description: This is a course for high school and college students, where they serve as attorney advocates and jurors in a federal courthouse for the day. They are presented a case and from there they make the decision on how it should be decided; they learn how to make difficult decisions and work through discourse with assistance from a federal judge and volunteer attorneys.

Colorado Bar Association Rule of Law Task Force

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• Description: The task force is made up of seven sections. A video contest for Colorado residents, rule of law essays and white papers, recent initiatives, position statements, task force strategic plan, task force leadership and additional resources.  The task force’s strategic plan involves education & public awareness activities, advocacy & policy monitoring, Professional Standards & Ethics.

ABA Rule of Law in America CLE 

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• Description: The ABA provides a combination of dozens of live and on-demand webinars on the rule of law. These CLE’s explore the integrity of the U.S. legal system and the importance of an independent judiciary through expert discussions on “safeguarding the rule of law, preserving public trust, and ensuring justice remains free from political influence.”

Dallas Bar Association: Tools for Strengthening Democracy and the Rule of Law

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• Description: This Bar Association provides links to tools and organizations that offer guidance and promote democracy and the rule of law. They provide recordings to their forums on the Rule of Law and Law Day for free. 

The Association of American Law Schools: Rule of Law Clearinghouse 

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• Description: Created in partnership with the ABA task force for American Democracy they created a page with scholarly articles, statements, podcasts, webinars, course syllabi, educational programs, centers and institutes, law school clinic activities, and more that focus specifically on challenges to the rule of law. There are scholarly articles, statements from law schools, legal associations, deans and professors, and civil rights groups, amicus briefs for the law firm v trump cases, podcasts/webinars, and community education programs. 

Washington Bar Association: Rule of Law Ambassador Program

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• Description: This program was designed to help legal professionals carry out the duties of public service embedded in their rules and responsibilities as an attorney. The goal is “to show Washingtonians that their legal community stands united around the rule of law, and this is what we aspire to: The same laws apply to everyone, and everyone is treated equally under the law; government power is bound by law; and human rights are guaranteed to all.” The Bar association provides is a tool kit for becoming an ambassador and steps on how to understand the rule of law and how to connect and educate members of your community. 

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Library of Legal Resources Related to the Rule of Law and Immigration Services

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• Description: This library of legal resources includes links to rule of law essays, town hall recordings, online courses, pro bono opportunities, and a civic education section. The civic education sections is focused on provides resources for all people to learn about the rule of law and current attacks the judiciary is facing. 

Louisville Bar Association, Public Education Resources on the Rule of Law

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• Description: This bar association provides resources for several national civics education programs, Kentucky specific programs, books and papers for in-depth learning, and education events.

Kresge Law Library: Rule of Law Guide

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• Description: This law library guide was created to support the rule of law seminar at Notre Dame Law School, it contains introductory resources, databases and online recourses, books and treatises, initiatives and organizations, and additional research guides. Along with these resources they provide keyword searches to help students find more targeted information.

PROLAW Program: Loyola School of Law Library Guide

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• Description: This law library guide has sections for books, law periodicals, databases and web resources all on the topic of the rule of law. Its web resources section contains sources ranging from legal blogs to primary law to current awareness to other rule of law initiatives and organizations.

Penn Carey Law Library Rule of Law Research Guide

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• Description: This law library research guide has sections for introductory materials, secondary sources, library catalogs, news and current awareness, data on the rule of law through LexisNexis Rule of Law impact Tracker, organizations involved with rule of law efforts, and additional resources for research. 

Rule of Law 101

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• Description: The Rule of Law 101 project aims to deepen the public’s understanding of how the rule of law works by having 10 law professors teach 10 highly influential SCOTUS cases that best show the significance of the law and legal process in the United States’ constitutional democracy. This free resource provides 10 free videos and links to other rule of law resources.

Speak Up For Justice

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• Description: This is a collection of recordings of webinars and a sign up for future webinars presented by federal and state judges, former U.S. Attorneys, academics, and other lawyers speaking “in a nonpartisan way, to support our justice system, our lawyers, and our community.”

Civics Break: Duke Law Bolch Judicial Institute

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• Description: “Civics Break is a non-partisan course that examines the rule of law, how courts fit into the American democratic system, what judges do, and how courts and judges affect our lives.” This is an online course made to be flexible for adult learners. Upon completion of the modules, quiz ,and survey,  participants receive a certificate of completion. The Bolch institute promotes this being a live presentation and provides an email to contact if you wish to get a presentation from their team or to do one yourself. They will provide scripts and slide decks if you wish to present them yourself.  
• Course Guide: Civics Break: Facilitator's Course Guide