‘We stand for the rule of law’; Attorney General Ellison urges lawyers to ‘stand together’ in the face of Trump attacks, political retribution
Joins 21 attorneys general in issuing open letter to legal community: Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms and the legal community are ‘unconstitutional on their face’
Also urges support for federal judges and judicial independence
‘We stand with all our colleagues in the legal community who place the ideals and values of their profession over obedience and silence’
March 26, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — In the face of President Trump’s attacks on the legal community and the federal judiciary, Minnesota Attorney General Ellison today joined a coalition of 21 attorney generals from around the United States in issuing an open letter to America’s legal community to “stand together” and reminding them that collectively as a legal community, “we stand for the rule of law.” Attorney General Ellison and the coalition reference five recent executive orders targeting law firms that have challenged the actions of President Trump and his administration and state that the orders are “unconstitutional on their face.” They write, “Law firms must refuse to bow to illegal and unconstitutional threats of retribution for having the temerity to represent clients and cases opposing the administration.”
In the letter, Attorney General Ellison and the coalition also write that they “stand firm in our support of the federal judiciary and judicial independence” and that they “categorically reject the President’s calls for the impeachment of judges in response to rulings contrary to positions his administration has advanced.” They further write, “Attorneys and firms also have a responsibility to speak out against baseless attacks on the federal judiciary, and we must condemn and reject suggestions that impeachment is an appropriate response to a judicial ruling. It is up to us as lawyers, law firms, and state attorneys general—as the entire community of the legal establishment—to refuse to bow to intimidation.”
“Lawyers are not spectators to the Constitution, we are its agents, and the right to pick your own legal counsel to represent and defend you and your interests is a fundamental constitutional right,” said Attorney General Ellison. “My fellow attorneys general and I are urging the legal profession to stand strong against the Trump Administration’s attempts to punish lawyers who challenge its unlawful actions and threats to impeach federal judges who rule on the side of the law. These efforts to stifle dissent are downright authoritarian — and we know from the lessons of history that appeasing authoritarian leaders only leads to more authoritarianism. For the good of the Constitution and the rule of law, I encourage my fellow lawyers meet this moment with the courage and moral fortitude that history and our country demand of us.”
In addition to the executive orders President Trump has issued against five law firms seeking retribution over ideological differences and punishing firms for the actions of individual attorneys representing clients adverse to the president or his supporters, he also issued a memorandum last week threatening all law firms and lawyers that engage in litigation against the federal government.
Trump’s actions purport to cancel all government contracts with the targeted firms, strip all of the firms’ attorneys of their security clearances and threaten the same against any firm that dares to step out of line. The orders bar lawyers from the firms from public buildings and violate client privacy, including mandating that clients disclose their contracts with the targeted firms. President Trump also singled out individual attorneys for condemnation because the attorney represented clients who challenged his administration’s actions.
In addition, one of the orders calls on the U.S. attorney general, in consultation with state attorneys general, to “investigate” law firms that have programs or policies focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. In response, Attorney General Ellison and the coalition state clearly, “We strongly support the values that underpin DEI, and the best practices by firms and businesses in keeping with these values are not illegal.” They further state, “We do not take retribution against those who bring suit against us. We will not allow the debasement and misuse of our offices in such a way, and we encourage firms to stand strong and to support their colleagues in the profession in the face of the President’s attacks.”
The chilling effect of the President’s actions was quickly demonstrated, however, as one targeted firm has already given into the administration’s demands by agreeing to, among other things, abandon diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and provide $40 million in pro bono work on causes supported by President Trump.
Attorney General Ellison and the coalition conclude, “As state attorneys general, we have sworn oaths to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Rule of law is the bedrock of everything that makes our country great. Our economy, our rights and freedoms as citizens and residents, our lives and livelihoods are all protected by the fair and unbiased application of the law. We will not allow anyone, including the President, to bully law firms out of representing clients who may be politically disfavored, or clients out of being represented by counsel of their choosing. We will not sit by silently in the face of attempts to attack and intimidate the federal judiciary. We will not allow the rule of law to be undermined. We stand with all our colleagues in the legal community who place the ideals and values of their profession over obedience and silence.”
Joining Attorney General Ellison in today’s letter are Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who led the coalition, and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
