This article argues that the legal profession has an ethical obligation to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi accountable for actions that allegedly undermine the rule of law and professional standards within the U.S. Department of Justice The authors describe how mass firings of DOJ lawyers, political pressure on prosecutors, and a weakened system of internal ethical oversight have raised serious concerns about the erosion of legal independence.
Drawing on three detailed case studies, the article shows how DOJ attorneys were pressured to act against their professional judgment—or forced out for refusing to do so—highlighting violations of core ethical duties such as candor to the court, independent legal judgment, and supervisory responsibility . In response, a coalition of legal professionals filed a formal ethics complaint with the Florida Bar, arguing that Bondi’s conduct may breach the Rules of Professional Conduct and threaten democratic accountability.
Ultimately, the authors contend that ethics complaints are not partisan tools but essential mechanisms for preserving the integrity, independence, and credibility of the legal profession. They conclude that lawyers have a collective duty to challenge misconduct—especially when democratic institutions and the rule of law are at risk.