Guidelines for Editors

The CLRS Journal of Global Justice & Governance (ISSN: 3049-1940) is a diamond open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing legal scholarship in global justice and global governance. Our editors are entrusted with upholding the journal’s mission by managing the publication process with integrity, fairness, and transparency. These guidelines, aligned with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) topics—including Peer Review, Journal Management, Ethical Oversight, and Conflicts of Interest—outline the responsibilities, ethical standards, and procedures for all members of the Editorial Board.

1. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Manuscript Oversight: Oversee the submission, peer review, and decision-making process for assigned manuscripts, ensuring timely and impartial handling.
  • Quality Control: Ensure articles meet the journal’s scholarly standards, align with our Aims & Scope in global justice and global governance, and adhere to formatting and ethical guidelines.
  • Peer Review Management: Select qualified, independent reviewers and supervise the double-blind peer review process as detailed in our Peer Review Policy.
  • Editorial Decisions: Make informed decisions (accept, revise, reject) based on reviewer reports, editorial judgment, and the journal’s mission.
  • Journal Management: Collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board to maintain consistency in policies and enhance the journal’s reputation.

2. Ethical Standards

  • Ethical Oversight: Uphold research ethics by ensuring submissions reflect accurate legal analysis, credible evidence, and unbiased scholarship, as outlined in our Research Ethics policy.
  • Conflicts of Interest: Disclose any personal, financial, or professional conflicts (e.g., prior collaboration with authors) to the Editor-in-Chief and recuse yourself from affected manuscripts.
  • Confidentiality: Protect the confidentiality of submissions, reviewer identities, and editorial correspondence throughout the process.
  • Fairness: Evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, free from bias based on authors’ identity, affiliation, or nationality, embodying global justice principles.

3. Handling Specific COPE Topics

  • Allegations of Misconduct: Investigate suspected plagiarism, falsification, or other ethical breaches promptly, following our Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and Retractions & Corrections policies. Consult the Editor-in-Chief and, if necessary, external experts or institutions.
  • Authorship and Contributorship: Verify that authorship aligns with our Authorship Policy (e.g., substantial contribution, final approval). Address disputes by facilitating author resolution or escalating to the Complaints & Appeals process.
  • Post-publication Review: Manage post-publication issues (e.g., corrections, retractions) per our Retractions & Corrections policy, ensuring transparency and accountability.
  • Intellectual Property Issues: Ensure submissions respect copyright and licensing (e.g., no unauthorized reproduction), coordinating with authors on open-access terms (e.g., Creative Commons).

4. Editorial Conduct

  • Timeliness: Respond promptly to authors, reviewers, and editorial queries to maintain efficient governance of the publication process.
  • Transparency: Document all decisions and provide clear, constructive feedback to authors, particularly for revisions or rejections.
  • Appeals and Complaints: Participate in resolving appeals or complaints as outlined in our Complaints & Appeals policy, ensuring due process.

5. Support and Resources

  • Editors should consult the following for guidance:
    • Peer Review Policy for review process details.
    • Guidelines for Reviewers to assist in selecting and instructing reviewers.
    • Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement for ethical benchmarks.
  • For complex issues, editors may seek advice from the Editor-in-Chief or COPE resources (e.g., flowcharts on misconduct).

6. Contact

For clarification or support:
Email: editor.jgjg@academyclrs.org
Subject Line: “Editorial Query”

These guidelines ensure that editors contribute to a just, equitable, and well-governed publication process, supporting the journal’s mission and COPE’s ethical standards.