On 31 January and 1 February 2025, I held a block seminar at the Faculty of Law of Georg-August University Göttingen on the topic “Backlash against Constitutional Courts and International Courts: Phenomena, Causes, and Countermeasures“.

With 16 highly engaged students, insightful presentations, and lively discussions, the seminar was both intellectually and personally enriching. At the core of our discussions were current backlashes against constitutional and international courts – ranging from the politicization of the U.S. Supreme Court, to judicial reforms in Poland and Hungary, and the constitutional crisis in Israel. Together, we examined these developments through doctrinal, comparative, historical, and international legal lenses and explored potential legal and institutional strategies to strengthen the resilience of constitutional adjudication.

A particular highlight was the discussion with Professor Dr. Dieter Grimm, former judge of the German Federal Constitutional Court, who shared his reflections on the risks to constitutional courts with the participants.

My sincere thanks go to Dieter Grimm for his wisdom and to all students for their excellent contributions, critical questions, and evident passion for public law.