American Bar Association defends judges following administration's criticism
The American Bar Association (ABA) on Monday repudiated the Trump administration for attacking judges who issue rulings they don’t like and defended its lawyers against “efforts to undermine the courts and the profession.”
In a statement, ABA president William Bay warned of a “clear and disconcerting pattern” in government actions that “highlight[s] escalating governmental efforts to interfere with fair and impartial courts, the right to counsel and due process, and the freedoms of speech and association in our country.”
“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,” the ABA statement read.
Bay noted that high-ranking government officials have called for the impeachment of judges, whom they call “corrupt” but make “no effort to produce evidence of the so called ‘corruption.’”
“These have been directed only at judges who have ruled against the government position,” Bay said.
Bay called the personal targeting of judges “unacceptable” and said the government must not seek to remove judges “simply because they do not rule as the government desires.”
He also warned that judges have faced increasing physical threats, suggesting a clear effort to intimidate judges and courts.
“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 said. “They are designed to cow our country’s judges, our country’s courts and our legal profession.”
Bay called on other lawyers — even elected officials — to stand up for the legal profession and “to speak out against intimidation.”
He continued: “We acknowledge that there are risks to standing up and addressing these important issues. But if the ABA and lawyers do not speak, who will speak for the organized bar? Who will speak for the judiciary? Who will protect our system of justice? If we don’t speak now, when will we speak?”
The statement comes as the Trump administration faces significant legal challenges over its sweeping executive actions and Elon Musk’s efforts to reshape the government to eliminate waste and cut spending.
When a federal judge ruled Musk could not have access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, the senior adviser to the president said the judge should be impeached, writing on X at the time, “A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW.”
Vice President Vance weighed in on the matter, saying, “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
Trump said he was “very disappointed with the judges that would make such a ruling,” when asked about it at the time on Air Force One.
He added: “No judge should frankly be allowed to make that kind of a decision.”
-
American Bar Association backs 'rule of law' after Musk calls for judges to be impeached
The American Bar Association this week rejected attacks on the court system and the legal profession, after billionaire Elon Musk used his X platform to call for the impeachment of judges who have ...NBC News - 21h -
Trump administration does not have to allow Associated Press access yet, judge rules
A federal judge on Monday declined to issue a temporary restraining order for The Associated Press in its effort to gain full access to the Trump administration, asking for a fuller briefing before ...NBC News - Feb. 24 -
Inside the gold bar grifting scheme that's defrauding Americans
Victims of gold bar scams reported losses of $126 million in 2024.ABC News - Feb. 25 -
Meet the Trans Troops the Trump Administration Is Barring
Officers and enlisted. Combat veterans and recent recruits. Transgender service members say their military experience has looked nothing like the portrayal of them in the political arena.The New York Times - 5d -
Kentucky Distillers' Association responds to Trump tariffs: 'Hard-working Americans … will suffer'
entucky’s bourbon industry is bracing for potential economic fallout after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, China and Mexico this week — and after all three countries ...The Hill - 1h -
Associated Press sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech
The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its ...NBC News - Feb. 21 -
Trump Claims Power to Fire Administrative Law Judges at Will
The Justice Department said a law protecting the officials from arbitrary removal is an unconstitutional intrusion on presidential authority.The New York Times - Feb. 21 -
Eric Adams' case indefinitely adjourned by judge following DOJ request
A federal judge has indefinitely adjourned New York City Mayor Eric Adams' fraud criminal trial after last week's request from the Department of Justice.ABC News - Feb. 21 -
Supreme Court schedules arguments in case where Trump administration is defending ACA
The Supreme Court on Monday scheduled arguments for April 21 in a case that could decide the legality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that insurers cover certain preventive ...The Hill - Feb. 24
More from The Hill
-
Supreme Court appears divided on offsite nuclear waste storage
The Supreme Court appeared split Wednesday on the question of whether the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the authority to license private, temporary offsite storage of nuclear waste. In ...The Hill - 37m -
‘War feminism’ helped doom USAID
The failure to deliver women’s liberation to Afghanistan delegitimized USAID in the eyes of Americans who have decided to turn away from the idea of development aid altogether.The Hill - 40m -
Two-thirds of Americans support CFPB: Poll
About two-thirds of Americans support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), according to a new poll released Wednesday. Some 67 percent of Americans surveyed by the Center for ...The Hill - 40m -
DOJ charges Chinese hackers, government officials in campaign targeting US agencies
The U.S. government has charged 10 Chinese hackers-for-hire and two of the country's security officials in a scheme to steal data from American entities and dissidents of the Chinese government, ...The Hill - 44m -
Live updates: Trump touts 'unrelenting action' in speech; mayors grilled on 'sanctuary cities'
President Trump celebrated early action during his second term in a record-length speech to Congress on Tuesday night, drawing rounds of applause from Republicans and continual protests from ...The Hill - 54m
More in Politics
-
Watch Live: Democratic mayors of "sanctuary cities" testify before Congress
The mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City are testifying before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee Wednesday on their immigration policies.CBS News - 15m -
Watch Live: Democratic mayors of "sanctuary cities" testify before Congress
The mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City are testifying before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee Wednesday on their immigration policies.CBS News - 15m -
Supreme Court appears divided on offsite nuclear waste storage
The Supreme Court appeared split Wednesday on the question of whether the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the authority to license private, temporary offsite storage of nuclear waste. In ...The Hill - 37m -
‘War feminism’ helped doom USAID
The failure to deliver women’s liberation to Afghanistan delegitimized USAID in the eyes of Americans who have decided to turn away from the idea of development aid altogether.The Hill - 40m -
Two-thirds of Americans support CFPB: Poll
About two-thirds of Americans support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), according to a new poll released Wednesday. Some 67 percent of Americans surveyed by the Center for ...The Hill - 40m