Pseudolaw and Sovereign Citizens

Can you avoid any law you do not consent to? Can you avoid paying taxes by declaring yourself sovereign? Do courts operate under admiralty or maritime law? No. But welcome to the strange world of pseudolaw.

Pseudolaw and Sovereign Citizens is the first-ever edited volume solely dedicated to examining pseudolaw and its most prominent adherents, sovereign citizens. Drawing on the expertise of judges, criminologists, legal theorists, and political sociologists, this collection offers insights into the global growth and alarming adaptability of pseudolaw.

While it might be tempting to laugh at the ridiculousness of pseudolaw, it is a serious matter. People who make these claims rob themselves of meaningful legal opportunities and impose great costs on themselves, the administration of justice, and the community. Pseudolaw is also linked to violent extremism and indicative of growing social insecurity.

Part I offers ways to analyse and differentiate pseudolaw from other forms of conspiracy ideation and fringe legal interpretation. Part II examines the rise of sovereign citizens and the global spread of pseudolaw. Part III explores contemporary issues arising from pseudolaw, including the rise of far-right extremism, lay persons in judicial proceedings, fake claims of indigeneity, and fraudulent ‘get out of jail’ schemes. It concludes by considering how we can respond to this phenomenon.