Independent judiciary

The political concept of an independent judiciary is that the judges in a country's legal system should be immune to impeachment or political manipulation. Countries with an indepedent judiciary usually appoint judges as a lifetime or very long term position, and give them immunity from impeachment after their appointments.

The concept of an independent judiciary is meant to provide protection for the individual and to create a neutral third party in politics that cannot be influenced by the ebb and tide of political motivation. This is a method of curbing the excesses of democracy from degenerating into mob rule. However, its effectiveness is not without its detractors.