University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Attacks Against Legal Profession

Turkish police detain second lawyer for Islamic preacher critical of gov’t as investigation expands

Turkish police detained lawyer Alişan İnci on August 21, the second defense lawyer for government critic and Islamic preacher Alparslan Kuytul taken into custody within three days. Bilal İpek, another of Kuytul’s lawyers, was detained on August 19 and had his phone seized, reportedly after commenting on a social media post by a presidential aide …

Zimbabwe: Lawyers Targeted During Opposition to Constitutional Changes Expanding Executive Power

Amnesty International issued a follow-up Urgent Action on August 7, 2026, calling on Zimbabwean authorities to drop all charges against human rights defender Bhekimpilo Mbedzi. Mbedzi was arrested on July 15 after posting a video on Facebook urging the public to join a demonstration planned for July 31 against Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3; authorities …

Thailand: Investigate Online Attacks Against Rights Defenders

On July 31 (Thailand), Human Rights Watch reported that Angkhana Neelapaijit, a senator and former member of Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission, filed a police complaint after a wave of social media posts accused her of being unpatriotic and sympathetic to a separatist group, with some posts calling for her to be killed or “disappeared.” …

Grave concern over the ICE arrest of Chinese human rights lawyer Wu Shaoping

Lawyers for Lawyers reported that U.S. immigration authorities detained Wu Shaoping, a Chinese human-rights lawyer who fled China after facing pressure connected to his legal work. Wu had sought asylum in the United States, and legal organizations warned that deporting him could expose him to renewed persecution. The case is especially relevant because a lawyer …

Iran: Defense Lawyer Elham Zeraatpisheh Released on Bail in Shiraz

This July 30 report from the IAPL Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers (Iran) documents the conditional release of defense lawyer Elham Zeraatpisheh on bail in Shiraz, alongside the recent arrest of attorney Astareh (Maryam) Ansari, a member of the Fars Bar Association, at her home. These cases are part of a broader campaign in …

Ugandan opposition figure collapses in court, party official says

During proceedings against opposition figure Kizza Besigye, attorney Erias Lukwago was arrested, while Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua, who was leading Besigye’s defense team, had previously been prevented from entering Uganda. The developments occurred as Besigye collapsed in court after months in detention and his lawyers raised concerns about his health and access to adequate treatment. …

‘This is about the rule of law’: U.S. attorney fired by Trump sues to overturn dismissal

In a July 22, 2026 PBS NewsHour interview with justice correspondent Ali Rogin, Roger Rogoff — a former Washington state judge and prosecutor — explained why he is suing the federal government after being fired by email within an hour of being sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. A panel …

Trump Administration Subpoenas Law Firms, Escalating Pressure Campaign

The relative calm between the White House and the major law firms that settled with it in 2025 has given way to a behind-the-scenes legal fight, with the Justice Department subpoenaing thirteen firms and seeking depositions from their leaders. The dispute grew out of a June lawsuit by the American Bar Association aimed at halting …

DOJ Subpoenas 14 Law Firms Over Trump Executive Orders and Deals

Newly filed court documents reveal that the Justice Department’s subpoenas to 14 law firms are far broader than previously reported. Issued July 1, the subpoenas sought sweeping document production — including any communications, since January 20, 2025, involving Trump’s personal senior counsel Boris Epshteyn, along with materials on the negotiation, implementation, and monitoring of the …

Failed Immigration Cases Leave Chicago Prosecutor’s Office Reeling

A New York Times investigation by Danny Hakim, published July 19, 2026, reports that the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois has been destabilized by the aftermath of last fall’s federal immigration operation in Chicago, known as Operation Midway Blitz. According to the Times, the office filed assault charges under a rarely …