Domestic violence towards wives was given increasing attention by social and legal reformers as the 19th century continued.

Discontented gentry unlocked the door which legal reformers had been unable to unlock for themselves.

During the 18th century, the concept of corporal punishment was attacked by some philosophers and legal reformers.

Anthony Comstock (1844-1915), legal reformer, famous for the anti-pornography laws named after him.

Labor leaders, clergy and legal reformers are harassed and assassinated.

But it also revealed the rising influence of legal reformers.

Many legal reformers believe the court system must become more autonomous to eliminate corruption in the legal system.

There has been some movement by legal reformers to use courts (xianfa sifahua) and bureaucracy to experiment with constitutionalism.

After Watergate, legal reformers proposed making the Department of Justice independent of presidential control.

Of course, there is also the problem all would-be legal reformers face: finding the right plaintiff for a landmark case.