DescriptionThis research explains varying degrees of judicial power in patronal regimes and what triggers the reforms towards or away from stronger constitutional courts. The central argument advanced in this study suggests a curvilinear relationship between judicial power and patronal regime: constitutional courts will have higher levels of judicial power in the weakest and strongest patronal regimes than in patronal regimes of middling strength. By scrutinizing the dynamic between the constitutional justice mechanisms and political regimes in three countries, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, this study finds that weak patronal regimes need stronger and more independent courts as an insurance policy. However, as the regimes become stronger, they become less interested in independent courts with the restraints and risks they entail. Finally, the strongest patronal regimes can afford stronger courts as a way of disciplined exercise of power because they do not face such risks to their powers.