Rule of Law

Afternoon Briefs: ABA president comments on Law Day rule-of-law theme; virtual grand juries upheld

ABA president notes significance of Law Day theme ABA President Patricia Lee Refo said this year’s Law Day theme—“Advancing the Rule of Law Now”—is particularly significant considering last year’s events. “The rule of law means no one is above the law, and no one is beneath it,” she said in…

Apr 30, 2021 3:00 PM CDT

Sotomayor and Gorsuch warn that misinformation and intolerance can threaten democracy

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil M. Gorsuch warned of threats to U.S. democracy during a prerecorded Zoom event released Wednesday to promote civics information.

Apr 15, 2021 9:43 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Slower-paying law students wait-listed; ‘tiger mom’ law prof back in the news

Law school wait-lists students who finished late in deposit race The University of Notre Dame’s law school is facing criticism for putting pressure on would-be law students to make their decisions quickly. The school requires admitted students to pay their $600 deposit by April 15—but if the school meets its…

Apr 9, 2021 4:26 PM CDT

Lawyers and the ABA are on front lines in protecting the bedrock of our democracy

While the rule of law has been the foundation of America since its birth, recent events and unprecedented attacks on our institutions underscore the need to remain vigilant about protecting it. The COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing racial injustice and attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential power have all highlighted broader challenges around justice in America.

Apr 1, 2021 3:00 AM CDT

High tech can heighten discrimination; here are some policy recommendations for its ethical use

From federal surveillance of social justice protests to facial recognition technology that results in inordinately high false positives for certain demographic groups, recent surveillance trends have deep historical roots and troubling future implications for traditionally marginalized groups. These trends threaten our core constitutional values, democratic principles and the rule of law.

Mar 23, 2021 9:08 AM CDT

ABA is on a ‘promising path forward,’ President Patricia Lee Refo says

Since taking office, ABA President Patricia Lee Refo has maintained a schedule of events that would've once been unimaginable.

Feb 22, 2021 3:46 PM CST

‘I am not the president’s lawyer’: Garland says he wouldn’t be swayed by politics as attorney general

Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit pledged Monday to remain independent and restore integrity to the U.S. Department of Justice if he is confirmed as the next U.S. attorney general.

Feb 22, 2021 3:35 PM CST

Interested in speaking to students and community groups during National Judicial Outreach Week?

With National Judicial Outreach Week around the corner, the Judicial Division has put out the call for active and retired judges to meet with their communities in-person or virtually to talk about the importance of the courts and upholding the rule of law.

Feb 18, 2021 3:20 PM CST

Trump impeachment brief cites First Amendment, says call to fight referred to quest for election security

Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers maintain that he was exercising his First Amendment rights, rather than inciting a riot, when he spoke to a crowd before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Feb 2, 2021 2:35 PM CST

How to restore trust for a profession in transition

There is a temptation to part company with the challenges and disappointments of 2020 and move full speed ahead into 2021 without looking back. As lawyers, however, we should not forget what we learned from the past year. Rather, we need to make some serious New Year’s resolutions. In 2020,…

Jan 26, 2021 3:13 PM CST

Could Trump face charges for speech before Capitol riot? Experts differ on Brandenburg impact

Could a 1969 case involving a Ku Klux Klan leader protect President Donald Trump from incitement charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol?

Jan 14, 2021 12:06 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: AG official resigns after Capitol march robocall; 157 law deans condemn election lawyers

Official with AG group resigns after ‘stop the steal’ robocall Adam Piper, the executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association, has resigned after the group’s fundraising arm urged supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. “At 1:00 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and…

Jan 13, 2021 4:40 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: State bar considers ousting Giuliani; pelt-wearing protester is judge’s son

State bar will consider Giuliani ouster The New York State Bar Association is considering whether to expel lawyer Rudy Giuliani from its voluntary membership rolls under a bylaw that prevents members from advocating the overthrow of government. Giuliani made baseless claims of widespread election fraud and suggested “trial by combat”…

Jan 11, 2021 4:24 PM CST

18 law firms join Crowell & Moring in calling for Trump’s removal; NYC bar also seeks ouster

Eighteen law firms have joined Crowell & Moring in calling on Vice President Mike Pence to use the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office.

Jan 11, 2021 12:34 PM CST

House introduces article of impeachment accusing Trump of ‘incitement of insurrection’

The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced an article of impeachment that accuses President Donald Trump of “incitement of insurrection.”

Jan 11, 2021 11:17 AM CST