University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Lawyers Against Democratic Decline

Two major law firms urge judges to permanently block Trump’s executive orders

Two major U.S. law firms, Perkins Coie and WilmerHale, asked federal judges to permanently block executive orders issued by President Trump that they argue retaliate against them for past legal work opposing Trump and his allies. The firms contend the orders violate constitutional protections and threaten the legal profession’s independence. Although courts have already temporarily …

Read resignation letter from SDNY prosecutors asked to admit ‘wrongdoing’

On April 23, 2025, three federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York—Celia V. Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom—resigned after refusing to admit wrongdoing in the high-profile bribery case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. The Justice Department had suspended the prosecutors and allegedly demanded they express regret as a condition for reinstatement. …

Former Top Government Lawyers Defend Law Firms Targeted by Trump

As Donald Trump escalates efforts to punish law firms involved in cases against him, several former U.S. solicitors general — including Donald Verrilli, Paul Clement, and Elizabeth Prelogar — are stepping in to challenge his executive orders. These orders strip targeted firms of federal contracts and bar their lawyers from interacting with government agencies. Framing …

She Inspired Laws to Hold the Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable. Now She’s a Target.

Rachel Rothschild, a law professor whose legal research helped inspire groundbreaking “climate superfund” laws in New York and Vermont, has become the focus of a politically motivated campaign by fossil fuel-aligned groups. These organizations are using public records lawsuits and media pressure to discredit her work and discourage climate litigation. The campaign, backed by industry …

As DOJ Employees Fear What Comes Next, Alums Form Group to Help

Amid rising concerns among Department of Justice employees about political retribution under the Trump administration, a group of DOJ alumni has launched a network to support current staff. The group, composed of former DOJ lawyers across administrations, aims to protect the independence of career civil servants and defend them against intimidation, especially as Trump signals …

ACLU Reacts to President Trump’s Latest Directive Threatening Lawyers and Law Firms

The ACLU strongly condemned a recent executive order by President Trump targeting law firms and attorneys involved in cases or causes he opposes, including immigration and civil rights work. Describing the move as a direct attack on the rule of law and legal representation, the ACLU emphasized that lawyers must be able to represent clients …

Hungary: Judges and Court Staff Rally to Defend Judicial Independence

Thousands of Hungarian judges, court employees, and supporters marched to the Ministry of Justice in Budapest, demanding stronger judicial independence, the right to express dissent, and higher salaries. The protest was sparked by a controversial agreement linking salary increases to judicial reforms, which many judges say was signed under pressure and without proper consultation. Critics …