Retraction, Withdrawal, Correction, Removal, and Replacement Policies

Legal Research & Analysis is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record in legal studies. We recognize the significant effort authors invest in preparing manuscripts and the thorough peer-review process conducted by the journal. However, in exceptional circumstances, published articles may require correction, retraction, withdrawal (pre-publication), removal, or replacement to maintain the accuracy, trustworthiness, and completeness of the legal literature.

All decisions in these matters adhere to the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring transparency, fairness, and editorial independence. These actions are not taken lightly and aim to correct the scholarly record rather than to punish authors.

(R) Article Retraction

Retraction is used when the published article's findings or conclusions can no longer be relied upon due to serious flaws. Retractions apply to the Version of Record (final published article).

Reasons for retraction may include (but are not limited to):

  • Major errors (honest mistakes or misconduct) that invalidate the conclusions, such as unreliable data, misinterpretation of legal sources, or flawed analysis.
  • Redundant/duplicate publication (findings previously published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification).
  • Ethical violations, including plagiarism, authorship manipulation, compromised peer review, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or unethical research practices.
  • Other serious issues compromising the reliability of the article (e.g., fictitious authorship or data misrepresentation).

Procedure (following COPE guidelines):

1.   A concern is raised to the Editor-in-Chief (by authors, readers, reviewers, or institutions).

2.   The Editor follows COPE flowcharts, investigating the issue and seeking a response from the corresponding author(s).

3.   The Editor consults with the Editorial Board or Advisory Editor(s) as needed.

4.   The final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief and communicated to the author(s) and, if appropriate, relevant institutions.

5.   A clear Retraction Notice is published online (with a prominent watermark on the article PDF), linked to the original article, and included in the next available issue. The notice includes the reason(s) for retraction, who initiated it, and is freely accessible.

6.   The original article remains online (marked as retracted) to preserve the historical record; it is not removed.

Retractions may also be issued in batches if systematic issues (e.g., coordinated manipulation) are identified.

 

 

 

(W) Article Withdrawal

Withdrawal applies primarily to manuscripts that have not yet reached the final Version of Record (e.g., Articles-in-Press, accepted but unedited versions, or during production).

Authors may request withdrawal before final publication (galley proof stage) by submitting a formal written request to the Editor, stating clear reasons (e.g., discovery of errors, duplicate submission, or policy violations).

Withdrawal is generally permitted for:

  • Honest errors discovered post-acceptance.
  • Accidental duplicates.
  • Violations of journal policies (e.g., multiple submissions, false authorship, plagiarism).
  • Editorial/production errors leading to premature posting.

Important note: Starting in 2025, manuscripts that have entered the peer-review process cannot be withdrawn until the Editor issues a final decision. Withdrawals at this stage waste valuable time, expertise, and resources of editors, reviewers, and the publisher. Authors are expected to commit to the review process upon submission.

Withdrawal notices may be published for transparency, and bibliographic metadata is retained.

(C) Article Correction

Corrections address smaller but significant errors in an otherwise reliable article without invalidating the overall conclusions.

Types of corrections:

  • Publisher Correction (Erratum) — Issued for errors introduced by the journal (e.g., production, typesetting, or metadata mistakes) that affect readability, integrity, or reputation.
  • Author Correction (Corrigendum) — Issued for errors made by authors (e.g., honest miscalculations, incorrect citations, or minor factual inaccuracies in legal analysis).
  • Addendum — An author-initiated addition to expand, clarify, or update information without altering the original findings.

Procedure: The Editor reviews the request (from authors or others), may seek clarification or peer input, and decides on the appropriate correction type. The correction is published online, linked to the original article, and appears in the next available issue. Minor typographical errors not affecting meaning are typically not corrected post-publication.

(R) Article Removal

Removal (deletion) of the full article from the online platform is extremely rare and reserved for exceptional legal or safety reasons. The article's metadata (title, authors, DOI) is retained, but the full text is replaced with a notice stating:

"The full text of this article has been removed for legal reasons [or due to serious public interest concerns]."

Reasons may include:

  • The article is defamatory.
  • It infringes legal rights (e.g., copyright violation).
  • It is subject to a court order.
  • It poses a serious risk if followed (e.g., extreme cases involving harmful legal advice).

This action complies with preservation of the scholarly record while addressing unavoidable legal obligations.

(R) Article Replacement

In rare cases where an article poses a serious risk (e.g., potentially harmful misinterpretation of legal principles with real-world consequences), authors may be allowed to retract the flawed version and replace it with a corrected one.

Procedure:

  • The standard retraction process is followed.
  • The retraction notice links to the new corrected version.
  • A full history of changes is documented.
  • The replacement is clearly labeled as such.

This option is considered only when the core scholarship remains valid after correction and retraction alone would not adequately protect readers.

Contact: Concerns regarding published articles should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief via the journal's official contact email. All cases are handled confidentially and in accordance with COPE best practices.

These policies are reviewed periodically to align with evolving ethical standards in scholarly publishing.