Protecting Apex Courts from Capture Introducing the Symposium on the Constitution Hill Global Guidelines on Apex Court AppointmentsIn an era of growing threats to democracy worldwide, the independence of apex courts has emerged as one of the critical fault lines. A common early target in this process is the judiciary—and in particular, the apex courts that stand as the final guardians of constitutional rights and the rule of law. Structural Distinction of Apex CourtsWhile numerous national, regional, and international frameworks exist for the selection and appointment of judges more broadly, none have focused specifically on the distinctive role and character of apex courts. She situates the Guidelines within the wider phenomenon of executive aggrandisement and democratic backsliding, where apex courts are frequently the first institutional targets. He highlights how the Guidelines set a universal baseline for protecting the structural and institutional role of apex courts.