Human Rights Watch has called on the Maldives government to reinstate three Supreme Court justices—Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, Mahaz Ali Zahir, and Husnu Al Suood—who were suspended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) under what observers describe as politically motivated disciplinary actions. The suspensions occurred as the Supreme Court was preparing to rule on a politically …
On April 23, 2025, three federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York—Celia V. Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom—resigned after refusing to admit wrongdoing in the high-profile bribery case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. The Justice Department had suspended the prosecutors and allegedly demanded they express regret as a condition for reinstatement. …
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was accused of restricting internal discussions among its lawyers regarding the firm’s controversial deal with President Trump to avoid punitive executive orders targeting the firm. The National Institute for Workers’ Rights filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Skadden unlawfully interfered with employees’ rights to …
Freedom House’s new policy brief, Justice in Shackles: The Global Persecution of Judges and Lawyers, documents how repressive governments worldwide are increasingly targeting legal and judicial professionals to undermine the rule of law. Between 2014 and 2024, politicized detention, prosecution, or imprisonment of judges, prosecutors, and especially lawyers occurred in at least 78 of 112 …
In this Above the Law column, legal commentator Mark Herrmann offers a provocative defense of Big Law firms that chose to settle with the Trump administration rather than fight its executive orders. While acknowledging the reputational and ethical costs of capitulation, Herrmann argues that it was a rational, even necessary move to protect firms from …
As President Trump issues executive orders targeting law firms for their past legal work or diversity efforts, most large firms have opted to strike deals rather than push back — a response shaped by the hyper-competitive “talent war” that has reshaped Big Law. The rise of high-paid, mobile deal-making partners has eroded firm loyalty and …
In March 2025, Keystone Law’s London headquarters was vandalized by activists due to its representation of U.S. defense contractor Teledyne, which had obtained a court injunction against the protest group Palestine Action. This incident reflects a growing trend: law firms are increasingly becoming targets of activist reprisals, not just their clients. Security experts warn that …
In April 2025, dozens of Big Law associates across major firms—including Skadden, Simpson Thacher, Willkie Farr, Kirkland & Ellis, and Latham & Watkins—submitted public resignation letters in protest of their firms’ compliance with political demands from the Trump administration. These letters, featured here, articulate a shared alarm over the erosion of democratic norms, the undermining …
As Donald Trump escalates efforts to punish law firms involved in cases against him, several former U.S. solicitors general — including Donald Verrilli, Paul Clement, and Elizabeth Prelogar — are stepping in to challenge his executive orders. These orders strip targeted firms of federal contracts and bar their lawyers from interacting with government agencies. Framing …
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), alongside global legal and human rights groups, has condemned the Turkish government’s lawsuit and criminal investigation against the Istanbul Bar Association and its leadership. Sparked by the Bar’s call for an independent probe into the deaths of two journalists, the charges—including “terrorist propaganda”—are seen as reprisals for …