University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Lawyers Facilitating Democratic Decline

Florida Attorney General Defied Order Blocking Part of Immigration Law, Judge Rules

A federal judge in Miami found Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt of court after he defied an order blocking a controversial state immigration law. Despite a February ruling halting enforcement of the law criminalizing undocumented entry into Florida, Uthmeier instructed law enforcement to proceed with arrests, arguing the order lacked specific agency direction. …

Law ≠ Power: How Legal Academia Enabled Trump’s Assault on the Rule of Law

In Persuasion, law professor Rebecca Roiphe argues that decades of critical legal theory have undermined the legal profession’s ability to defend against Trump’s authoritarian legal agenda. Rooted in 1970s-era legal academia, the idea that law is merely a tool of power has shaped generations of lawyers. Trump’s view of law—as something to weaponize for political …

‘Lawfare’ in Spain: the cases against the Sánchez family

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused far-right groups and segments of the judiciary of engaging in “lawfare”—using legal mechanisms to pursue politically motivated cases—against his wife and brother. Both are under investigation for alleged corruption, based on complaints from a group with far-right ties, triggering concerns about judicial politicization. Sánchez’s government has proposed …

Skadden accused of blocking lawyers from discussing firm’s deal with Trump

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was accused of restricting internal discussions among its lawyers regarding the firm’s controversial deal with President Trump to avoid punitive executive orders targeting the firm. The National Institute for Workers’ Rights filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Skadden unlawfully interfered with employees’ rights to …

US law firms quietly scrub DEI references from websites to appease Trump

Facing pressure from President Trump’s administration, nearly two dozen top U.S. law firms have quietly removed references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from their websites and adjusted descriptions of pro bono work to align with the administration’s political priorities. The changes—ranging from deleting DEI-related language to cancelling diversity events—reflect a broader trend of legal …

Read the DOJ memo barring employees from participating in American Bar Ass’n events

On April 9, 2025, Law Dork published the full DOJ memo in which Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche formally prohibited Justice Department employees from participating in American Bar Association (ABA) events in any official capacity. Citing the ABA’s involvement in litigation against the government and its support for positions contrary to DOJ policy, Blanche emphasized …

US Justice Dept bars its attorneys from participating in American Bar Association events

On April 9, the U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, announced it will no longer allow its attorneys to attend or speak at events hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA). In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the ABA for supporting what he called “activist causes” that conflict with the …