Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and a coalition of 21 attorneys general issued an open letter to the legal community warning of illegal attempts by the Trump Administration to deter lawyers from challenging the Administration’s actions or representing clients disfavored by the Administration. The attorneys general call on the legal community to resist attempts at bullying or retribution and uphold the values of their profession.
“The Trump Administration’s egregious attacks on the legal community demonstrate that our lawsuits are working. The President is lashing out at anyone who dares to hold him accountable,” said AG Campbell. “My team, including our lawyers and those we collaborate with, will not remain silent or succumb to these attacks. We know no amount of money, power, or status is worth living in a lawless society where there is no accountability. I urge our legal community to be courageous because the very purpose of our profession is to meet this moment.”
The coalition argues that the Administration’s unconstitutional actions are a gross abuse of authority and an attack on the practice of law. The attorneys general note in their letter that President Trump has issued Executive Orders against five law firms, seeking retribution for the positions that they or their clients have taken on legal issues. The Administration’s attempts to punish firms for the actions of individual attorneys representing clients adverse to the President or his supporters are unlawful. The President also issued a memorandum last week threatening all law firms and lawyers that engage in litigation against the federal government.
Trump’s actions cancel all government contracts with the targeted firms, strip all of the firms’ attorneys of their security clearances and threaten the same against any firm that dares to step out of line. The orders bar these firms' attorneys from public buildings and violate client privacy, including mandating that clients disclose their contracts with the targeted firms. President Trump also singled out individual attorneys for condemnation for representing clients who challenged his administration’s actions.
In addition, one of the orders calls on the U.S. Attorney General, in consultation with state attorneys general, to “investigate” law firms that have programs or policies focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In their letter, the attorneys general note that lawyers have an obligation to uphold the rule of law and should not give in to intimidation by dropping clients or refusing to take on certain cases due to fear of retribution. They encourage firms to stand strong and support their colleagues. The coalition also makes clear that they will not allow their offices to be used for political attacks against law firms that hold viewpoints unfavored by the Administration.
Finally, AG Campbell and the attorneys general condemn the Administration’s baseless attacks on federal judges who have ruled against President Trump and his allies. The coalition urges the entire legal community to speak out against such attacks, including calls for the impeachment of judges who rule against the administration’s actions.
Joining AG Campbell in sending this letter, which is led by the attorneys general of Delaware and Illinois, are the attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Original source can be found here.