In his first public remarks since leaving the Justice Department, former special counsel Jack Smith cautioned that the rule of law is facing unprecedented threats. Speaking at George Mason University, Smith condemned political interference in prosecutions, selective targeting of opponents, and protection of presidential allies from accountability. Smith pointed to recent DOJ turmoil, including prosecutors …
As the Trump administration escalates politically motivated firings, blocks congressionally approved funds, and pressures major law firms, a wave of smaller legal outfits has stepped in to defend democracy and the rule of law. Key players include Lowell & Associates, Democracy Defenders Fund, and the Washington Litigation Group. These firms—staffed by veteran attorneys, ex-Justice Department …
The American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy has recommended that every U.S. state expand lawyer oaths to include a commitment to upholding democracy and the rule of law. The proposal comes amid declining public trust in government and legal institutions, after a two-year bipartisan review led by former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson …
Veteran Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell has emerged as one of the only attorneys in Washington willing to take on Donald Trump during his second term, after the president targeted law firms representing immigrants, diversity causes, or other opposition. While big firms backed away from cases under pressure, Lowell left his practice to open his own …
At the inauguration of the Hyderabad branch of the London-based 52 Gates Law Firm, IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu urged legal professionals to zealously protect India’s Constitution. He emphasized that the egalitarian framework, crafted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and nurtured by Jawaharlal Nehru, is under threat from forces seeking to undermine democracy. Sridhar …
Michelle Behnke, a Wisconsin attorney with Boardman Clark, has become the new president of the American Bar Association (ABA). In her remarks at the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Behnke pledged to strengthen the rule of law by advocating for judicial independence, ensuring the safety of judges, and promoting an inclusive and fair justice system. …
In response to renewed concerns over executive overreach, a group of veteran attorneys has launched the Washington Litigation Group — a new law firm dedicated to providing free legal representation to individuals and institutions targeted by President Trump’s administration. The firm’s mission is clear: challenge the erosion of legal norms and defend democratic institutions. One …
In a powerful message from ABA President William R. Bay, the American Bar Association reflects on a pivotal choice it made six months ago: to speak out amid rising threats to the rule of law. Faced with judicial intimidation, attacks on public servants, government resistance to court orders, and assaults on diversity and civil rights, …
In a bold move, the prestigious law firm Milbank has joined a legal battle to defend the sanctuary city policies of Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, and Paterson. Prominent attorneys including former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal have agreed to steeply reduce their hourly rates—Katyal, who normally charges $3,250 per hour, will now work for just …
More than 900 former U.S. Department of Justice employees have signed a letter warning the Senate Judiciary Committee against confirming Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The letter, organized by the advocacy group Justice Connection, criticizes Bove’s leadership and alleged role in undermining constitutional norms, …