The idea of judges, who are government employees, to join together in associations is a modern notion associated with the political development of separation of governmental powers. Scholars question the existence of these organizations, their legitimacy and raison d'être, since judges supposedly defend no other interests than those of the law. Given the variety in court systems worldwide, it is not surprising that the representation of judges takes such a variety of forms in various historical and geographical settings, ranging from the absence of any specific organization, to a unique professional association, to a competitive field of judges' unions. Of course, the very existence of such organizations depends on the type of political regime in which judges work. Dictatorships are usually reluctant to support any ...