International human rights courts and the (international) rule of law: Part of the solution, part of the problem, or both?

Abstract Critics challenge international courts for their interference with domestic democratic processes and alleged violations of rule law standards: they claim that these guardians the are not well guarded themselves. These concerns should be dismissed too quickly as mere disgruntled venting by populist politicians. This article focuses on regional human rights argues same interests values justify standards impartiality, independence accountability domestically also similar courts. Focusing European Court Human Rights its doctrine margin appreciation, demonstrates how this may contribute to fulfilling but at time endanger it. requires changes ensure core predictability protection against arbitrary discretion respected.