University of Wisconsin–Madison

Archive

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 …

Argentina: Milei Undermines Judicial Independence

President Javier Milei appointed two Supreme Court justices—Federal Judge Ariel Lijo and legal scholar Manuel García-Mansilla—by presidential decree, bypassing the constitutionally mandated Senate approval process after months of failing to secure the required two-thirds majority. Human Rights Watch condemned the move as one of the most serious threats to Argentina’s judicial independence since the return …

Hungary: Judges and Court Staff Rally to Defend Judicial Independence

Thousands of Hungarian judges, court employees, and supporters marched to the Ministry of Justice in Budapest, demanding stronger judicial independence, the right to express dissent, and higher salaries. The protest was sparked by a controversial agreement linking salary increases to judicial reforms, which many judges say was signed under pressure and without proper consultation. Critics …

Read the resignation letter by Denise Cheung, a veteran D.C. federal prosecutor

In this powerful resignation letter, veteran federal prosecutor Denise Cheung details her decision to step down after refusing a directive from the Trump administration to freeze assets and initiate a criminal investigation into an environmental grant program without sufficient legal basis. Cheung describes the intense internal deliberations, her collaboration with the FBI, and her ultimate …

Argentine lawyers accuse President Milei of fraud over cryptocurrency promotion

A group of Argentine lawyers has filed a criminal complaint against President Javier Milei, accusing him of fraud for promoting the controversial cryptocurrency platform Coinx. The lawyers claim that Milei’s endorsement misled citizens into losing money and call for a thorough investigation into his role in legitimizing a financial scheme. Read the article

El Salvador – Water Defenders Prosecuted Amid International Outcry

Hundreds of academics and legal experts from 44 countries are urging Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to drop criminal charges against five environmental activists fighting to protect water resources. The case, viewed as an effort to silence opposition to mining projects, has drawn global concern over violations of due process and threats to human rights defenders …

Serbian Lawyers Suspend Work for Month in Support of Protests

Lawyers across Serbia suspended work for a month in solidarity with mass anti-government protests, demanding greater transparency and justice reform. Their unprecedented strike sent a clear message: the legal profession will not stay silent as democratic institutions erode and political interference threatens judicial independence. Reat the Balkan Insight article

Lawyers in Pakistan’s capital strike to protest ‘unfair’ transfer of judges

Lawyers across Pakistan’s capital launched a strike to protest President Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to transfer three judges from provincial high courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The transfers—carried out despite opposition from five sitting IHC judges—sparked backlash from bar associations, which accused the government of undermining judicial seniority and independence. Legal organizations warned …