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MBA President Victoria M. Santoro
Massachusetts Bar Association President Victoria M. Santoro appeared on WBUR’s All Things Considered radio program on Wednesday, April 2, to discuss the impact of President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms, such as WilmerHale.
As described by WBUR, the executive orders targeting law firms “attempt to restrict firms' access to federal buildings, remove any active security clearances held by its personnel, and direct government employees not to meet with the firm or its members.”
On the program, Santoro defended the rule of law and criticized improper attacks against judges and law firms. “I am drawing a line in the sand that says that lawyers are free to represent the clients that they choose,” Santoro said.
Santoro also talked about the MBA’s recently released “Statement in Defense of the Rule of Law,” which denounces government political retribution against law firms and judges. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Massachusetts law firms in condemning executive action that chills a client's right to legal representation,” the statement says, in part.
The MBA president noted that several law firms and bar associations have since reached out to sign on to the MBA’s statement. To have your firm or organization sign on to this statement, have an authorized representative send an email to communications@massbar.org.
Listen to Santoro’s interview on WBUR’s All Things Considered here.