University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: News

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An attack on the Constitution? Why Trump’s moves to punish law firms are causing alarm

President Trump’s recent wave of executive orders targeting major law firms—beginning with Perkins Coie and followed by Paul Weiss, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale—has alarmed the legal community, raising fears of political retribution for representing clients or causes critical of the administration. Critics warn that these actions threaten core constitutional principles by pressuring firms to …

Big Law launches a trickle of resistance against Trump’s crackdown

More than 500 law firms have signed an amicus brief supporting Perkins Coie in its legal challenge against a series of retaliatory executive orders issued by President Trump, which critics argue threaten the rule of law and represent an abuse of executive power.

Judiciary must be protected, says Macron, as judge who sentenced Le Pen put under guard

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly defended the independence of the judiciary following threats against Judge Bénédicte de Perthuis, who sentenced far-right leader Marine Le Pen to a five-year election ban for embezzlement of European Parliament funds. Le Pen, head of the National Rally party, was convicted for orchestrating fake job contracts to funnel EU …

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 …

Brazilian Supreme Court panel orders ex-President Bolsonaro to stand trial over alleged coup plan

On March 26, 2025, a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court justices unanimously voted to indict former President Jair Bolsonaro for his role in an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election and retain power. Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro and 33 allies of plotting a coup, which allegedly included plans to assassinate President Lula …

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 …

Sudanese Lawyers Condemn Deadly RSF Shelling in Khartoum

On March 24, 2025, the Emergency Lawyers network in Sudan reported that at least five civilians were killed and dozens injured during paramilitary shelling on a mosque in eastern Khartoum. The attack, blamed on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), occurred during evening prayers and targeted non-combatants in the East Nile district. This marks the second …

Trump Targets Law Firms in Sweeping Legal Retaliation Memo

President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on the legal community, issuing a new directive that empowers Attorney General Pam Bondi to sanction lawyers and law firms engaged in what he calls “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation” against the federal government. The memo threatens disciplinary actions — including revoked security clearances and canceled federal contracts …

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 …

With New Decree, Trump Seeks to Cow the Legal Profession

In a sweeping move to intimidate the legal profession, President Trump issued a new memorandum threatening sanctions against lawyers and firms who bring lawsuits against his administration, framing them as engaging in “frivolous” or politically motivated litigation. The order has alarmed legal experts, civil rights advocates, and law firms, with critics warning it undermines the …