Letters
This section features powerful public letters and statements written by members of the legal community who chose to speak out—or step down—in defense of democratic principles and the rule of law.
These include open letters denouncing institutional complicity, resignation letters from government lawyers refusing to comply with ethically fraught orders, and personal appeals invoking the profession’s highest ideals.
Together, these documents offer a window into how lawyers have responded to democratic backsliding in real time—refusing silence, choosing integrity, and asserting the legal profession’s duty to country over power.
Letters of Dissent
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Bove Nomination Opposed by Judges Who Sat on the Same Bench
More than 75 former federal and state judges, including two retired members of the Third Circuit, have publicly opposed Emil Bove’s nomination to that same court, citing a pattern of misconduct, political…
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ABA Responds to DOJ Restrictions on Judicial Nominee Evaluations
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…
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Judges Condemn Arrest of Wisconsin Judge and Attacks on Judicial Independence
More than 150 retired state and federal judges have signed a letter condemning the Trump Administration’s arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan and escalating threats against the judiciary. The letter,…
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Letter Opposing the Confirmation of Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney
On May 1, 2025, the Society for the Rule of Law Institute submitted a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee strongly opposing the confirmation of Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for the…
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National Judicial College joins in national statement defending judicial independence
On May 1, 2025, the National Judicial College (NJC) joined several major judicial organizations in issuing a powerful joint statement defending judicial independence amid escalating threats and political pressure. The statement reaffirms…
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Associate Resigns from Willkie Farr Over Trump Deal
In a powerful act of protest, Willkie Farr associate Andrew Silberstein publicly resigned after the firm agreed to a deal with the Trump administration that many viewed as capitulating to political pressure.…
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Abbe Lowell Defends Letitia James Against Politically Motivated DOJ Referral
In a strongly worded letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, attorney Abbe Lowell, representing New York Attorney General Letitia James, denounces a politically motivated “criminal referral” against James initiated by a…
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Resignation Letters: A Collective Stand for the Rule of Law
In April 2025, dozens of Big Law associates across major firms—including Skadden, Simpson Thacher, Willkie Farr, Kirkland & Ellis, and Latham & Watkins—submitted public resignation letters in protest of their firms’ compliance…
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Joint Statement by the International Legal and Human Rights Community on the Actions Against the Istanbul Bar Association
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), alongside global legal and human rights groups, has condemned the Turkish government’s lawsuit and criminal investigation against the Istanbul Bar Association and its leadership.…
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Harvard Law Faculty Warn of Threats to Rule of Law Amid Trump-Era Tensions
In a powerful open letter, 91 Harvard Law School professors warned students that core American legal principles are under threat, citing growing intimidation of lawyers and fear among international students for engaging…
Letters of Resignation
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Read the resignation letter by Denise Cheung, a veteran D.C. federal prosecutor
In this powerful resignation letter, veteran federal prosecutor Denise Cheung details her decision to step down after refusing a directive from the Trump administration to freeze assets and initiate a criminal investigation…
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Open Letter to my Russian Friends: Ukraine is Not Crimea
On EJIL:Talk!, Alain Pellet reflects on his resignation as counsel for Russia before the International Court of Justice, prompted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While distinguishing the 2014 Crimea situation—where he…