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 …
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 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, …
On June 16, 2025, the American Bar Association (ABA) filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging a systematic policy of intimidation targeting law firms and attorneys. The ABA argues that President Trump has used executive power to coerce firms into dropping clients and causes that challenge his administration—violating the First Amendment and the …
Seven litigation partners from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, including leaders of its San Francisco office, have left the firm to join Cooley. This follows internal backlash over Willkie’s controversial agreement with the Trump administration, in which the firm pledged $100 million in pro bono work and other concessions to avoid a damaging executive order. Cooley, …
The legal landscape in Washington has exploded under Trump’s second term, with over 400 lawsuits filed against his administration—most of them in the capital. As top firms buckle under political pressure, public interest groups like Democracy Forward and the ACLU have stepped up, rapidly expanding their legal teams to meet the demand. Lawyers describe a …
On June 10, 2025, ABA President William R. Bay sent a formal letter to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi expressing deep concern over the Department of Justice’s decision to restrict the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary from accessing judicial nominees and relevant information—an unprecedented move after 72 years of collaboration. Bay emphasized that …
On June 10, 2025, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Lawyers for Lawyers condemned the arbitrary detention and reported torture of Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist-journalist Boniface Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities. The two were arrested in Dar es Salaam while observing the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Although …
A judge in El Salvador has ordered Ruth Leonora López, a prominent human rights and anti-corruption lawyer, to be jailed for six months pending trial on charges of illegal enrichment. López, head of the Anti-Corruption Unit at Cristosal, has been a vocal critic of President Nayib Bukele’s emergency powers and alleged government corruption. Her arrest …
Four high-profile litigators — Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jessica Phillips, and Jeannie Rhee — have left elite law firm Paul Weiss to start a new firm unencumbered by restrictions stemming from the firm’s recent deal with the Trump administration. Their departure follows internal tensions over an agreement that critics say could limit the firm’s independence …