Lawyers Defending American Democracy

Opinion | In Science We Trust. Or Do We?

"Courts must remain free, without intimidation, to identify & redress abuses of power & governmental injustice. Only an independent judiciary can maintain the balance of power among the branches of government and maintain the rule of law." -- B. Jaffe, LDAD volunteer

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/o...

Judges across the country rebuke ICE for defying court orders They are increasingly castigating what they say are systematic legal and constitutional abuses by the administration.

Bravo to @politico.com for uplifting the many federal judges who are standing up for the rule of law. They are right. ICE cannot just ignore the rule of law, nor can it ignore judges orders. These judges are right to feel frustrated.
@kyledcheney.bsky.social

www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

This is very concerning. One of the traits of authoritarian governments is the way they silence the press. Don Lemon insists he was at this protest to cover what was happening. We need the press to tell us what is happening, so we can make our own judgments. Reporters should not be silenced.

Judge Orders ICE Chief to Appear in Court Over Potential Contempt

Federal judges continue to stand up for the rule of law. In Minneapolis, the chief judge, Patrick Schiltz spoke for so many when he demanded the head of ICE come to court to explain why he should not be held in contempt for violating court orders.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...

It is way past time that lawyers stood up & spoke out about the ways this administration is violating the Constitution. If you are unsure of how to do this, consider joining our Meeting the Moment volunteers who are working in their local communities to make a difference.

ldad.org/letters-brie...

In response to the shooting of Alex Pretti and the events over the past week's in Minneapolis, we are calling on all lawyers to defend the Constitution.

People's Constitutional rights are being taken away in Minnesota. It is time for lawyers to stand up and say stop.

ldad.org/letters-brie...

After ICE agents wrestled Alex Pretti to the ground, beat him, and shot him to death, Governor Walz activated state National Guard forces at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s request. The sheriff cited “the potential for continuing and growing conflict” due to the killing. 1/20

Will the world’s largest law firms, the country’s great law schools, and corporate leaders and in-house counsel continue to maintain their silence in the face of this searing international indictment of our profession today? Will Congress remain supine, hoping the storm will pass over? 2/2

Today is the Day of the Endangered Lawyer. For the first time, it is focused on the United States. Countries that have been the focus in the past include Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Belarus. This is a stinging indictment on the US. 1/2

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Immigration officers claim sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says The memo authorizes ICE officers to use force to enter a residence based solely on a more narrow administrative warrant to arrest someone with a final order of removal, a move that advocates say colli...

The 4th Amendment starts, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated."

No Department has a right to instruct people to violate the Constitution.

www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...

This is exactly right! We must all continually support and defend the rule of law.

John Adams and the Line a Republic Must Not Cross Virtue and the Use of Power.

A valuable read about the core of a republic. "Cruelty, even when legal, corrodes civic trust. It teaches citizens that power is something to fear rather than something they collectively own. It signals that consent is no longer the foundation of governance."

thefulcrum.us/ethics-leade...

“...with such rights here in the United States,” Judge Young said. “These cabinet secretaries have failed in their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution.”

‘Unconstitutional conspiracy’: Judge slams Trump administration over targeted deportations A Reagan appointee pointedly rebuked decisions by Trump, Rubio and Noem.

“I find it breathtaking that I have been compelled on the evidence to find the conduct of such high-level officers of our government — cabinet secretaries — conspired to infringe the First Amendment rights of people ...

www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

President Trump is once again threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, this time in Minneapolis. That would be a flagrant and particularly dangerous abuse of the Act—one that would threaten the rule of law and public safety alike. 1/13

Join LDAD in Meeting this Moment and help protect the rule of law. Every voice is needed. 3/3

ldad.org/letters-brie...

If we can't trust the words of government officials, if our neighbors are at risk of being sent to inhumane detention centers or flown to foreign prisons without due process, and if DoJ is focused on a retribution agenda, rather than protection of the public, we are all at risk. 2/3

There is a palpable collective grief in this country arising from a recognition that the government of the United States is operating unbounded by the rule of law.

There is a palpable grief in this country due to a recognition that the U.S. government is unbounded by the rule of law. Every day, we watch in horror as masked ICE agents operate in military-style tactical gear, creating chaos in American cities. 1/3

prod.cdn.everyaction.com/emails/van/T...

👏 We commend Jerome Powell for his service to the Constitution and to the American people. In a democracy, the law should treat each citizen equally. DOJ should not look for reasons to bring cases against people because a president is frustrated with them.

Trump's Fear Of The Vote Trump understands what the midterms mean for him, which is why he’s targeting election rules now; before voters decide and consequences finally catch up.

While we are all rightly focused on Minneapolis, Jerome Power, Venezuela, and other issues, this administration is quietly trying to change how we vote. In this article @michaelcohen212.bsky.social talks about these efforts and the court's response.

open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...

We Have the King That Thomas Paine Feared The rule of law was central to the American experiment. Is it still?

We keep asking the same question as @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social: Which is it to be? A stand for liberty in the spirit of Thomas Paine, or acquiescence to the depredations of our own mad King George? The rule of law or the rule of Trump?

We choose the law.

www.thebulwark.com/p/we-have-ki...

Chief Justice Roberts’s End of the Year Report Is an Embarrassing Fairy Tale Amherst professor Austin Sarat and attorney Lauren Stiller Rikleen critique Chief Justice John Roberts’s 2025 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary, arguing that it fails to address the recent cons...

In Chief Justice Robert's Year-End Report, he yet again shifts reality. Amherst's Austin Sarat and our Executive Director Lauren Stiller Rikleen explain how the Chief Justice's musings miss the mark and ignore what his Court is doing to undermine democracy.

verdict.justia.com/2026/01/08/c...

10 Crucial Things You Can Do in 2026 Your activism will be even more important this year

As 2026 begins, we know many of you are asking what you can do to protect our democracy. This recent substack by @rbreich.bsky.social has some excellent suggestions. We would add an 11th one -- join our Meeting the Moment efforts.

robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-c...

Because "When it comes to defending our Constitution and our system of laws, we have a special duty and an exceptional perspective. In this moment, we must speak out, in devotion to these bedrock principles of our nation. As leaders of the legal community, we call for action." 2/2

In the wake of January 6, 2021 -- 5 years ago today -- we put out a challenge to all lawyers that we repeat today.

We need lawyers to stand up for our democracy. This is even more true today than it was 5 years ago. Why? ⬇️ 1/2

ldad.org/letters-brie...

Opinion | Trump Is the Jan. 6 President

Tomorrow is the 5th anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. It is a good time to read this excellent editorial from @nytimes.com which explains the dangers of not holding leaders accountable when they break the law... and explains where we are today.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...

The ethics and disciplinary process must never be politicized. We bring a deliberate and rigorous manner in analyzing whether to file any complaint, working in close coordination with leading ethics experts. 3/3

In 2025, we filed a number of ethics complaints listed here:

ldad.org/letters-briefs

LDAD has taken care to file these complaints with the help of renowned ethics practitioners, including from the states in which we file. Our focus is always to analyze the record and seek accountability only where the record—legally and factually—supports the case that discipline is merited. 2/3

Since its inception, LDAD has pioneered the preparation and filing of ethics complaints with state bar disciplinary authorities that seek to hold accountable attorneys who have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct in service of efforts to undermine core principles of democracy. 1/3

Let's remember the word of our founders:

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"

They threw off their king for a reason. We should be very careful about bringing it back. 2/2