In a powerful message from ABA President William R. Bay, the American Bar Association reflects on a pivotal choice it made six months ago: to speak out amid rising threats to the rule of law.
Faced with judicial intimidation, attacks on public servants, government resistance to court orders, and assaults on diversity and civil rights, the ABA made a decision — silence was not an option. In February, the Association launched a bold campaign reaffirming core legal principles: the rule of law, due process, access to justice, and judicial independence.
That campaign struck a chord.
The ABA’s public statement quickly became one of its most widely read in recent history, sparking a wave of support from legal professionals and the public alike. It inspired new memberships, energized law schools, and ignited conversations across the country.
But the ABA didn’t stop at words. It filed lawsuits to protect lawyers’ rights, stood up for diversity in the profession, defended the Legal Services Corporation on Capitol Hill, and echoed Chief Justice John Roberts’ reminder that judicial independence is vital to democracy.
Today, the ABA is not the same organization it was six months ago — it is stronger, more grounded, and more committed than ever to its founding mission. As Bay concludes: “The rule of law does not defend itself. Lawyers do.”