Joint statement of two dozen bar associations re Trump attacks on bar and rule of law
Joint Statement of the Bar Associations Listed Below
We, the undersigned bar associations, stand united in condemning the President’s orders targeting law firms. These actions violate fundamental principles of our legal system and undermine the right to counsel, the independence of the legal profession, and the rule of law.
Our justice system is premised on the principle that all individuals and entities – regardless of their political, social, or economic standing – are entitled to representation. This foundational principle is not a privilege granted at the discretion of those in power; it is a cornerstone of democracy, enshrined in our Constitution, and protected by our courts. Attempts to intimidate or penalize lawyers for representing clients whose interests do not align with those of the government are antithetical to our democracy, violate the rule of law, chill attorneys from fulfilling their ethical and professional obligations, and undermine our system of justice.
We call upon all branches of government to support the rule of law and the essential role of lawyers in our democracy, and to reject any efforts to use the tremendous power of the government against members of the legal profession for performing their duty. We further call upon our fellow members of the legal profession as well as members of the public at large to reject any attempt to harass or intimidate our country’s lawyers and judges for simply doing their jobs.
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