Inside the Mandate: Safeguarding Judges, Lawyers, and Fundamental Rights with Meg Satterthwaite

About this episode

The episode features an interview with Meg Satterthwaite discussing her role as UN Special Rapporteur on judicial independence and the challenges facing democracy today.

In the twelfth and final episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Margaret Satterthwaite to discuss the personal journey, professional milestones, and global challenges that shape her work as UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. We also explore why judicial independence is essential for democracy, how global democracy backsliding is reshaping the mandate, and where meaningful resilience and hope continue to emerge. Margaret (Meg) Satterthwaite is a distinguished human rights lawyer, scholar, and advocate whose career has been dedicated to advancing justice, accountability, and the rule of law. Appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022, she leads the global mandate to safeguard the independence of judges and lawyers, a cornerstone of democratic governance and human rights protection. With a career spanning over two decades, she has worked at the intersection of international law, access to justice, and human rights, combining academic leadership with hands-on engagement in the field. She serves as a Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at New York University…

People in this episode

Guest: Margaret Satterthwaite

Topics covered

• judicial independence
• human rights
• democracy
• global challenges
• legal advocacy
• accountability

Keywords

• judges
• lawyers
• democratic governance
• global democracy
• human rights lawyer
• political interference
• justice
• accountability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: United Nations Human Rights Council, New York University School of Law

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