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‘Speak out on intimidation’, US lawyers urged

The American Bar Association (ABA) has called on all US lawyers to speak out against what it describes as “intimidation” by officials in the Trump administration. 

In a statement, the lawyers’ body’s president William Bay said that US government actions in recent weeks had shown a “clear and disconcerting” pattern. 

“If a court issues a decision this administration does not agree with, the judge is targeted. If a lawyer represents parties in a dispute with the administration, or if a lawyer represents parties the administration does not like, lawyers are targeted,” he stated. 

He cited the reaction to an ABA statement on the rule of law issued three weeks ago, saying that a government official had targeted the organisation by instructing some of its lawyers not to attend ABA meetings or participate as speakers. 

Impeachment calls 

On the courts, Bay said that US government officials had made repeated calls for the impeachment of judges who issued opinions that the administration did not agree with. 

“We cannot have a judicial system where the government seeks to remove judges simply because they do not rule as the government desires. Considering the increasing physical threats to judges, these are clearly efforts to intimidate judges and our courts,” the ABA president stated. 

The ABA also referred to “disturbing” actions against lawyers, saying that US Justice Department lawyers and assistant US attorneys had been the subject of “personal attacks, intimidation, firings, and demotions for simply fulfilling their professional responsibilities”. 

‘Words and actions matter’ 

The statement concluded by saying that the ABA rejected efforts to undermine the courts and the profession. 

“We will not stay silent in the face of efforts to remake the legal profession into something that rewards those who agree with the government and punishes those who do not. Words and actions matter. And the intimidating words and actions we have heard must end,” Bay stated. 

Acknowledging the “risks” associated with speaking out, Bay said: “We can choose to remain silent and allow these acts to continue, or we can stand for the rule of law and the values we hold dear.”