That whole “A Republic, if you can keep it” thing was pretty prescient. We’re currently in the “big if true” phase of that maxim. The ABA has recently taken heat for stances that during a large part of our country’s history would be givens: declaring that the rule of law is worth protecting, that the President shouldn’t be in the business of intimidating his domestic political opponents, that Kelly Clarkson is still the best American Idol winner, the usual. And although these things are objectively true, they’re getting harder to defend as the organization faces heightened political pressure. Law.com has coverage:
Since President Donald Trump started signing executive orders against firms over clients they’ve represented, the ABA cites three instances when it could not secure representation for matters challenging the Trump administration.
“In short, the ABA’s litigation activity—which it has historically used to advance its core goals— has been impaired as a consequence of the Law Firm Intimidation Policy. This impediment to the ABA’s activities constitutes organizational injury,” the ABA asserted in a court filing on Sept. 24.
That said, some firms still have the heart to represent the ABA. Susman Godfrey — enemy of my enemy and all that — is currently representing the organization. With the Texas Supreme Court’s recent move to cut the ABA out of its accrediting role over its political actions, it is nice to know that at least one firm in Houston, Texas is on their side. For the other firms that actually believe in the rule of law, fighting for the Bar is more than just a career highlight. It’ll prove to be a moral one.
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Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.