Double-anonymous external review
Research articles, review and conceptual articles, and case or legislation notes use double-anonymous external peer review. The handling editor assigns at least two independent expert reviewers who are outside the journal’s editorial decision-making office. An advisory-board member may review only if independent of the handling and acceptance decision and free of material conflicts. A third assessment may resolve substantive disagreement. Reviewer identity is not disclosed to authors, and author identity is not intentionally disclosed to reviewers; public preprints or distinctive subject matter may limit anonymity.
Screening and assessment
The handling editor first screens scope, originality, legal contribution, method, source reliability, ethics, readability and completeness. Desk rejection is permitted with reasons. A manuscript undergoing external review is assessed for significance, legal reasoning, engagement with scholarship, accurate and current authorities, evidence, method and ethical safeguards. The Editor in Chief or an authorised independent editor makes the final decision, not a majority vote of reviewers.
Decisions and revisions
Decisions are reject, major revision, minor revision, or accept. A major revision is not acceptance. A substantially new submission may require a fresh assessment. Authors receive the decision and substantive reasons, normally with anonymised reports. Revisions include a clean manuscript, an identifiable-changes version for the editor, and an anonymised point-by-point response. Re-review is used when necessary.
Acceptance letters are issued only after a documented acceptance decision; invitations, acknowledgements and fee invoices are not acceptance letters.
Timing and delays
Review timelines will be published on this page once they are adopted. Authors are notified of material delays and may request withdrawal.
Detailed reviewer duties and report-handling rules are in the Instruction for Reviewers. Restrictions on artificial intelligence in review are in the Generative AI Policy.
Policy version: founding draft 2.2 (2 November 2026), pending formal adoption.