Blog of the International Journal of Constitutional Law

Author: rdixon

  • The Debate about a Rights Charter in Australia – Part 2

    Yesterday, the Australian government released the Report of the National Human Rights Consultation Committee, on whether Australia should make changes to its current system of human rights protection. See http://www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au/www/nhrcc/nhrcc.nsf/Page/Report_NationalHumanRightsConsultationReportDownloads The Report contains 31 distinct recommendations for change in this area – some of which are clearly quite minimalist (e.g.

  • The Debate about a Rights Charter in Australia – Part 1

    Earlier this week, the National Human Rights Consultation Committee in Australia submitted its final report to the Australian government about whether Australia should adopt a national statutory rights charter, and if so, in what form– see Earlier this week, the National Human Rights Consultation Committee in Australia submitted its final report to the Australian government…

  • Dignity, Death & the Depth of Comparative Engagement in the US

    Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Montana heard argument in Baxter v. State of Montana (Case No. DA 09-0051), an appeal by the state of Montana against a decision by a district court judge, Judge Dorothy McCarter, recognizing a right to physician assisted suicide under the Montana state constitution.

  • A New Chief Justice for South Africa

    Today, President Zuma announced that Justice Sandile Ngcobo will become the new Chief Justice of South Africa. The appointment is potentially significant in both: (1) what it says about Zuma’s commitment to judicial independence; and (2) what it signals about the likely direction of the Constitutional Court’s jurisprudence, at least over the next two years,…

  • A New Chief Justice for South Africa

    Today, President Zuma announced that Justice Sandile Ngcobo will be become the third Chief Justice of a democratic South Africa. The appointment is potentially significance in both: (1) what it says about Zuma’s commitment to judicial independence; and (2) what it signals about the likely direction of the Constitutional Court’s jurisprudence, at least over the…