President Trump’s proposed FY 2026 budget calls for the elimination of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), threatening civil legal aid for millions of low-income Americans. If approved, funding would drop from $560 million to just …
Attacks Against Legal Profession
Trump’s Strategy in Law Firm Cases: Lose, Don’t Appeal, Yet Prevail
A new report by The New York Times reveals that although courts have blocked several of President Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms, the administration may still be achieving its broader goals. Four prominent firms—Perkins …
With Trump as ally, El Salvador’s President ramps up crackdown on dissent
In June 2025, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele escalated his crackdown on dissent, arresting prominent constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya on contested charges of money laundering. Human rights groups say the move reflects a broader campaign …
Trump’s big problems with big law
President Trump has issued executive orders aimed at restricting certain law firms that have challenged his administration or represented controversial clients. Some firms have settled, while others are fighting back in court. The NPR Politics …
Ongoing Judicial Harassment of Thai Human Rights Lawyer Arnon Nampa
Arnon Nampa, a Thai human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, has been repeatedly sentenced under Thailand’s lèse-majesté law for peacefully advocating for monarchy reform. As of May 2025, he is serving over 24 years in …
UN Expert Warns of Political Persecution in Guatemala
A United Nations expert has raised concerns over the growing use of criminal law by Guatemala’s Prosecutor General’s Office to target opponents of the current justice system. Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN Special Rapporteur on the …
American Legal Profession under Attack: Lessons from Abroad
On Law Day 2025, the American Bar Association warned that the U.S. legal profession is facing growing political pressure and retaliation, echoing patterns seen in authoritarian regimes like Belarus and Poland. Judges and lawyers in …
Interview with Scott Cummings (UCLA): Where are the lawyers while Trump attacks democratic institutions?
In a conversation with Amsterdam Law School, Professor Scott Cummings (UCLA) warns that the United States is undergoing severe democratic backsliding during Donald Trump’s second term. According to Cummings, Trump is systematically attacking independent institutions …
NEW POLICY BRIEF: Political Persecution of Judges and Lawyers Is a Global Problem
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 …
Why Big Law Firms Aren’t Standing Together Against Trump’s Assault
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 …