Washington, DC — On February 10, the American Bar Association issued a statement regarding the threats to the rule of law and our nation’s democracy presented by the early actions of the Trump-Vance administration.  The ABA urged that the administration adhere to the rule of law and the legal processes and procedures that ensure orderly change and called on “every attorney” to “insist that our government, a government of the people, follow the law.”

 “The administration cannot choose which law it will follow or ignore. These are not partisan or political issues. These are rule of law and process issues,” read the statement from William R. Bay, JD, president of the American Bar Association. “We cannot afford to remain silent. We must stand up for the values we hold dear. The ABA will do its part and act to protect the rule of law.”

Skye Perryman, JD, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement, released the following in concurrence with the ABA statement: 

“In the weeks since January 20, we have already seen attempts to sideline congressional authority, dismantle federal programs without statutory justification, and target employees and agencies for doing their jobs. These actions not only threaten the legal foundation of our democracy but also destabilize public trust in our institutions.

“Recent actions have further eroded ethical oversight within the executive branch. The Trump-Vance administration dismissed the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), a position whose independence is crucial for maintaining ethical standards in government operations. This dismissal, along with the recent firing of the head of the Office of Special Counsel, raises significant concerns about the administration’s commitment to ethical governance and the preservation of checks and balances. 

“We support and commend the American Bar Association, the nation’s leading association for the legal profession, in encouraging attorneys across the nation to defend our Constitution and the rule of law in this time.

“At Democracy Forward, we are committed to holding government leaders accountable to the law. We have been in the courts every single day, representing the American people and communities against this unprecedented executive overreach. We will continue to use the courts as the frontline and challenge unlawful actions that threaten the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of people and communities and encourage all lawyers to join our efforts.” 

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