Rule of Law

Civics Education: A teachable moment about the meaning of ‘rule of law’

In a June 2023 essay entitled “Civics: Who Will Teach Them?,” U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the following statement about the critical importance of effective civics education for all U.S. citizens: “An important component of being a good citizen is being an informed and knowledgeable citizen. That means having a working knowledge of how our government is structured, how it functions, the role of the different branches of government, their separate powers, the branches’ responsibilities and the limitations on their powers. Without such knowledge, it is nearly impossible for us to fulfill our duties or wisely exercise our privileges as citizens.”

Jul 8, 2025 3:01 PM CDT

Lawyer for ABA, foreign-aid recipients tells DC Circuit US must spend appropriated ‘pots of money’

Congress in 2024 “appropriated very specific pots of money for foreign assistance purposes” and required the executive branch to spend the full amount, a lawyer representing the ABA and other groups challenging funding cutoffs told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Monday.

Jul 8, 2025 1:35 PM CDT

US will appeal Perkins Coie win in fight over punitive executive order

The federal government will appeal a judge’s decision permanently blocking an executive order targeting Perkins Coie.

Jul 1, 2025 11:41 AM CDT

Harvard Law School names new dean, a leader who ‘cares deeply about the legal profession’

John C.P. Goldberg, who has been Harvard Law School’s interim dean since March 2024, was formally appointed to the position, effective immediately.

Jul 1, 2025 8:58 AM CDT

Trump executive order ‘cuts Susman off at the knees,’ judge says, permanently blocking it

A fourth federal judge has granted a permanent injunction blocking President Donald Trump from targeting law firms because of the clients they represent and the causes that they back.

Jun 30, 2025 10:49 AM CDT

Nationwide injunctions likely exceed federal courts’ authority, Supreme Court says

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the Trump administration Friday when it ruled 6-3 in a case about birthright citizenship that nationwide injunctions likely exceed the authority of federal courts.

Jun 27, 2025 9:22 AM CDT

Whistleblower alleges 3rd Circuit nominee Emil Bove suggested ignoring court orders while at DOJ

A whistleblower lawyer alleges that he was fired after resisting efforts by the Department of Justice and White House leadership to defy court orders in immigration cases “through lack of candor, deliberate delay and disinformation.”

Jun 25, 2025 10:17 AM CDT

SCOTUS will allow Trump to deport migrants to ‘third countries’ for now

The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the Trump administration to deport immigrants to countries where they are not citizens, temporarily blocking a decision by a lower court judge who said migrants must have a “meaningful opportunity” to contest their removal.

Jun 23, 2025 4:41 PM CDT

Attacks on rule of law will fail because lawyers ‘are fierce’ and ‘very resourceful,’ says DC Bar president-elect

“Lawyers are fighters, and judges will follow the law,” says Diane Seltzer, the president-elect of the D.C. Bar for the 2025-2026 term. “We are fierce; we care deeply about justice; and we are very, very resourceful in finding ways to make sure we prevail.”

Jun 20, 2025 11:17 AM CDT

Florida AG held in civil contempt for disobeying order; ‘litigants cannot change the plain meaning of words,’ judge says

A federal judge held Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in civil contempt of court Tuesday for disobeying an order temporarily blocking a state immigration law.

Jun 18, 2025 2:05 PM CDT

Disbarment recommended for ex-Trump lawyer Eastman by State Bar Court of California panel

Ex-Trump lawyer John Eastman has moved another step closer to disbarment, as a unanimous three-judge panel of the State Bar Court of California’s review department affirmed earlier findings that he was culpable of 10 counts of misconduct relating to his representation of President Donald Trump during and after the 2020 election.

Jun 17, 2025 12:08 PM CDT

The Next Day

Today is the next day I never imagined we would see. Attacks on the rule of law, judges, lawyers and the profession. The apparent disregard of due process. And now attacks on the ABA. All of this from our own government. The frequency and intensity show no sign of lessening.

Jun 1, 2025 10:00 AM CDT

Protecting fair and impartial courts is a key tenet of ABA advocacy

Given the fundamental role that fair and impartial courts have in upholding the rule of law, the American Bar Association has long made judicial independence a cornerstone of its advocacy.

Jun 1, 2025 12:10 AM CDT

BigLaw firms defend pro bono deals with Trump as they handle influx of requests for legal help

Nine BigLaw firms defended their multimillion-dollar pro bono deals with President Donald Trump as legal and ethical in letters to lawmakers obtained by Law360 and Law.com.

May 28, 2025 2:25 PM CDT

Why should I serve on a jury?

"Jury duty." The mere phrase often conjures up thoughts of inconvenience, long hours and endless courtroom drama. For many, it feels more like a chore than an opportunity. But serving on a jury is far more significant than most people realize. It’s not just a civic responsibility. It’s a cornerstone of democracy, a rare opportunity to directly participate in the justice system and an experience that offers both personal and societal rewards.

May 21, 2025 9:04 AM CDT