The Massachusetts Bar Association is an organization of lawyers and judges who consider sacrosanct their duties and obligations as officers of the court. As members of the Massachusetts bar, we have taken oaths to support both the Massachusetts and United States Constitutions. Fundamental to these oaths is the respect for, and defense of, the rule of law; the impartiality and freedom of the practice of law; and the independence of our third branch of government: the judiciary. Each of these three fundamental components is now being undermined and outright attacked through a series of graduated and worsening executive actions.
The administration has targeted some of the world's most prominent law firms, seeking political retribution for the clients these law firms have represented. These executive orders and political actions against law firms have now reached Massachusetts, with Friday's executive order targeting WilmerHale. As many of us know, WilmerHale was the product of a merger with the storied Boston law firm, Hale and Dorr, which famously represented Richard Nixon at the height of his legal and political troubles. WilmerHale responded forcefully and immediately to the executive order by filing a complaint seeking an injunction and restraining order against the administration. The MBA stands with WilmerHale and applauds its courageous defense of the rule of law.
Our profession prides itself on its independence, its impartiality and its freedom to represent a client, any client, during that client's time of need. Under our Constitution, all people are entitled to retain competent legal representation and to have their day in court. Similarly, attorneys should be able to practice their trade without being subjected to unwarranted interference and political pressures. We find ourselves in a moment where the pride we all share for the rule of law must culminate in outspoken action.
The MBA condemns government political retribution against law firms in the strongest terms. This administration’s executive actions targeting law firms are unconstitutional and unethical and undermine one of our most sacred rights: the right to an attorney. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Massachusetts law firms in condemning executive action that chills a client's right to legal representation.
The targeting of attorneys and law firms has come hand-in-hand with worsening and continuing attacks on the independence of the judicial branch of government. The administration has consistently undermined and outright ignored the full force and effect of judicial orders. Now, articles of impeachment have been filed against Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island because he granted a temporary restraining order blocking this administration's federal funding freeze. The MBA condemns this action in the strongest terms and stands in full support of an independent judiciary.
We will not be silent. We call upon bar associations, law firms, and each practitioner to stand with us to support and defend the rule of law.
The following law firms and organizations have signed on to this Statement in Defense of the Rule of Law. To have your firm or organization sign on to this statement, have an authorized representative send an email to communications@massbar.org.
Anderson & Kreiger LLP
Beacon Law Group LLC
Bennett & Belfort PC
Bove Langa Witherell & Soiffer PC
Casner & Edwards LLP
Conn Kavanaugh
Consilium Divorce Consultations
Consilium Institute
Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy PC
Ford, McDonald & Borden PA
Good Schneider Cormier Fried & Brooks
Greater Newburyport Bar Association
Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP
Judge David G. Sacks (Ret.) ADR Services
Justly Prudent
Kazarosian Costello LLP
Kenney & Sams PLLC
Krasnoo, Klehm & Falkner LLP
Laredo, Smith & Kane LLP
Law Offices of Sam Segal
Lian | Zarrow
Madge & Johnson PC
Marcotte Law Firm
Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys
Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association
McIntyre Mediation
McLane Middleton
Morgan Brown & Joy LLP
Pierce Atwood LLP
Plymouth County Bar Association
Richmond & Associates
Santoro & Gray LLC
Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Sugarman & Sugarman PC
The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts
Tocci & Lee LLC
Todd & Weld LLP
Turco Legal PC
Verrill Dana LLP
Worcester County Bar Association
Women’s Bar Association
Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP