Introduction

This issue examines the evolving discourse surrounding judicial independence and the rule of law, mainly, but not only in Central and Eastern European countries facing authoritarian challenges. This introduction emphasizes the importance of examining specific judiciaries, their histories, and ideological perception of judges. It presents outcomes from the Judges under Stress research project and its final conference at the University of Oslo in November 2022. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it investigates institutional path dependence, judicial ideology, and judicial resistance across various countries. The research addresses why courts are a focus for those attacking liberal democracy, how judges perceive their role in the state power system, and whether they have a right or duty to contradict legislation. This issue aims to contribute to understanding the challenges that judiciaries face in maintaining independence and upholding the rule of law in the face of authoritarian pressures.