University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Lawyers Against Democratic Decline

Venezuela announces amnesty bill that could lead to mass release of political prisoners

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Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez announced an “amnesty” bill that, if approved by the ruling party–controlled National Assembly of Venezuela, could lead to the release of hundreds of people detained for political reasons, including opposition figures, journalists, and human rights activists. The announcement came amid heightened political turmoil following the U.S. seizure of then-president Nicolás …

Statement of ABA President Michelle A. Behnke Re: Shootings in Minneapolis

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On January 26, 2026, American Bar Association President Michelle A. Behnke issued a statement responding to the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both U.S. citizens, during encounters with immigration agents in Minneapolis. Behnke emphasized that “this level of violence is not normal” and urged a fair, open government investigation to establish the …

Renewing the Commitment of Big Firm Lawyers?

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This piece examines how large U.S. law firms have responded to political pressure from the Trump administration, especially efforts to punish firms representing government critics. While some firms settled or retreated from controversial litigation, others have recently stepped up to defend civil rights, sanctuary cities, academic institutions, and government accountability. The author is skeptical that …

The Legal Profession’s Duty to Hold Attorney General Pam Bondi Accountable

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This article argues that the legal profession has an ethical obligation to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi accountable for actions that allegedly undermine the rule of law and professional standards within the U.S. Department of Justice The authors describe how mass firings of DOJ lawyers, political pressure on prosecutors, and a weakened system of internal …

How the American Legal Profession Can Regain Its Dignity

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In this guest essay, former federal judges Shira A. Scheindlin and John Jones III argue that the American legal profession failed a crucial test during the Trump administration by largely acquiescing to government pressure. They criticize major law firms that struck deals with the administration—abandoning diversity commitments and offering extensive pro bono services to government-favored …

Rights groups condemn ‘unconstitutional’ detention of activist Sarah Bireete

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Human rights organizations have condemned the arrest and continued detention of Sarah Bireete, a prominent Ugandan human rights defender, calling it unconstitutional and emblematic of a broader crackdown on civic space ahead of Uganda’s January 15, 2026 general elections. The Uganda Women’s Movement (UWM) warned that her detention reflects a pattern of arbitrary arrests targeting …

Don’t ‘Kill the Lawyers’ in 2026—They’re Fighting for Justice

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In this Bloomberg Law commentary (Jan. 5, 2026), attorney Abbe David Lowell argues that authoritarian-leaning leaders often target lawyers first because lawyers are essential to protecting rights and checking executive power. He reframes Shakespeare’s “let’s kill all the lawyers” as a warning: eliminating lawyers makes it easier to undermine democracy. Lowell says President Donald Trump’s …

How a Scholar Nudged the Supreme Court Toward Its Troop Deployment Ruling

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In a significant ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to the Chicago area, delivering one of its first major setbacks to Trump’s expansive claims of executive power in months. The decision was heavily influenced by an unusual source: a friend-of-the-court brief submitted by Georgetown law professor …

Democratic-led states challenge Trump administration’s attempt to defund CFPB

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A coalition of attorneys general from 21 U.S. states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s effort to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The suit argues that the administration’s refusal to request funding from the Federal Reserve is unlawful and violates Congress’s constitutional authority, effectively undermining …