Modern constitutions often use structural barriers to keep judges independent from political leaders
Modern democracies utilize structural barriers and direct citizen voting to prevent political leaders from controlling the judiciary, ensuring that legal decisions remain independent from the influence of the executive branch.
Constitutional frameworks are often designed to insulate judges from political pressure through rigid structural barriers. In Italy, for example, the constitution prevents magistrates from switching between roles as prosecutors and judges to eliminate prosecutorial bias. This separation of powers, rooted in 18th-century political theory, ensures that judicial independence is protected by law rather than by shifting political consensus.
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