University of Wisconsin–Madison

Month: March 2025

She Inspired Laws to Hold the Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable. Now She’s a Target.

Rachel Rothschild, a law professor whose legal research helped inspire groundbreaking “climate superfund” laws in New York and Vermont, has become the focus of a politically motivated campaign by fossil fuel-aligned groups. These organizations are using public records lawsuits and media pressure to discredit her work and discourage climate litigation. The campaign, backed by industry …

Brazilian Supreme Court panel orders ex-President Bolsonaro to stand trial over alleged coup plan

On March 26, 2025, a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court justices unanimously voted to indict former President Jair Bolsonaro for his role in an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election and retain power. Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro and 33 allies of plotting a coup, which allegedly included plans to assassinate President Lula …

As DOJ Employees Fear What Comes Next, Alums Form Group to Help

Amid rising concerns among Department of Justice employees about political retribution under the Trump administration, a group of DOJ alumni has launched a network to support current staff. The group, composed of former DOJ lawyers across administrations, aims to protect the independence of career civil servants and defend them against intimidation, especially as Trump signals …

Trump Targets Law Firms in Sweeping Legal Retaliation Memo

President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on the legal community, issuing a new directive that empowers Attorney General Pam Bondi to sanction lawyers and law firms engaged in what he calls “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation” against the federal government. The memo threatens disciplinary actions — including revoked security clearances and canceled federal contracts …

ACLU Reacts to President Trump’s Latest Directive Threatening Lawyers and Law Firms

The ACLU strongly condemned a recent executive order by President Trump targeting law firms and attorneys involved in cases or causes he opposes, including immigration and civil rights work. Describing the move as a direct attack on the rule of law and legal representation, the ACLU emphasized that lawyers must be able to represent clients …

With New Decree, Trump Seeks to Cow the Legal Profession

In a sweeping move to intimidate the legal profession, President Trump issued a new memorandum threatening sanctions against lawyers and firms who bring lawsuits against his administration, framing them as engaging in “frivolous” or politically motivated litigation. The order has alarmed legal experts, civil rights advocates, and law firms, with critics warning it undermines the …

New Presidential Memorandum: Preventing Abuses of the Legal System

On March 22, 2025, the President issued a memorandum titled “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court,” directing the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to take aggressive action against attorneys and law firms engaged in unethical or frivolous litigation, especially in cases affecting national security, immigration, public safety, and election …

Judges face rise in threats as Musk blasts them over rulings

A surge in threats against U.S. federal judges has raised alarm following a wave of inflammatory social media posts from Elon Musk and allies of President Trump, targeting judges who have ruled against key administration initiatives. Musk has publicly called judges “corrupt” and “radical,” leading to heightened security alerts from the U.S. Marshals Service and …