A decade after China’s largest crackdown on human rights lawyers—the 2015 “709 incident”—legal professionals and activists report that government control over the legal system has intensified under Xi Jinping. While once there was space for lawyers to defend civil rights within China’s own legal framework, today those involved in sensitive cases face harassment, surveillance, and …
In Turkey, the lawyer defending jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has himself been imprisoned amid what he calls a politically motivated purge. Mehmet Pehlivan, who represents İmamoğlu (President Erdoğan’s main rival), was detained in June on charges of belonging to a “criminal organization,” a charge he insists is entirely fabricated. Pehlivan told Reuters from prison …
In this commentary, law professors Abbe Smith and Ellen Yaroshefsky reflect on the legal profession’s responsibility to uphold ethical standards, focusing on efforts to initiate an ethics investigation into former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. They emphasize the duty of lawyers to speak out when legal ethics are undermined, especially in politically charged contexts. The …
In a dramatic shift, both the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress have increasingly deferred to President Donald Trump’s authority, signaling a rebalancing of constitutional powers in favor of the executive. The Supreme Court recently ruled that federal judges cannot issue nationwide injunctions on presidential actions—even if unconstitutional—and upheld presidential immunity for core official duties. Congress, …
Prominent conservative litigator and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement has been retained to defend 15 federal judges in Maryland, as well as the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, in a highly unusual lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The lawsuit, brought by the Trump administration, challenges a court order …
In April 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order targeting the law firm Susman Godfrey LLP based on the clients it represents and the causes it supports. This opinion from the U.S. District Court for D.C. finds the order unconstitutional, citing grave violations of free speech, due process, and separation of powers.
In this captivating talk, ABA President Bill Bay delivers a powerful message on the vital importance of defending justice and upholding the rule of law. Drawing on his extensive legal experience, Bay emphasizes the fundamental role of legal institutions in preserving democracy and protecting individual rights. He discusses key challenges facing the legal system today, …
In a rare and sweeping legal move, the U.S. Department of Justice has sued all federal judges in Maryland, accusing them of overstepping their authority by issuing automatic injunctions that block immigrant removals without case-by-case review. The complaint warns that these standing orders unlawfully tie the hands of federal immigration authorities and undermine the balance of powers between the judiciary and the executive branch.
This document contains the official whistleblower complaint submitted by Erez Reuveni, a senior Department of Justice attorney, who was terminated after refusing to mislead a federal court about a wrongful deportation. The letter details serious allegations against DOJ and White House officials, including defiance of court orders, abuse of authority, and endangerment of noncitizens. It was submitted to multiple oversight bodies by the Government Accountability Project and Gilbert Employment Law on June 24, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump harshly criticized Israeli prosecutors over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, asserting that the legal proceedings threaten to undermine regional diplomacy during a sensitive period. Netanyahu, who was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust—all of which he denies—is scheduled for cross-examination on Monday. A …