American Bar Association says rule of law is under 'attack'

By Karen Sloan

Feb 11 (Reuters) - The American Bar Association is warning the public about attacks on the rule of law — and suing the Trump administration — following the U.S. president's recent actions to dismantle parts of the federal government.

The ABA, the nation's largest voluntary lawyer group, on Tuesday joined a coalition of organizations that contract with the government to provide foreign assistance in suing the Trump administration over its moves to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Also on Tuesday, the ABA, which has about 150,000 paying members, issued a forceful statement condemning "recent remarks of high-ranking officials of the administration that appear to question the legitimacy of judicial review." To "attack" judges for their legal decisions is never acceptable, it said, adding the government is free to appeal decisions that don't go its way.

The ABA statement on Tuesday referenced calls to impeach the federal judge who on Feb. 8 temporarily blocked the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to gain access to U.S. Department of Treasury systems. The statement did not name Musk, who called for that judge to be impeached in a post on his social media platform X.

On Monday, ABA President William Bay warned that the new administration's "chaotic" approach is threatening the rule of law and said the ABA will act to ensure legal processes are followed — adding that courts will serve as a “bulwark” against constitutional violations.

The Monday statement broke nearly three weeks of relative silence from the ABA following Trump's inauguration, during which time the president took aim at diversity initiatives, disrupted executive agencies, and moved to pull federal funding for international aid, medical research grants and other government programs.

"We cannot afford to remain silent," Bay wrote. "We must stand up for the values we hold dear.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Trump made bar associations a target on his second day in office with an executive order that federal agencies investigate diversity and inclusion programs at bar associations, companies and universities.

Bay's Monday statement cited the attempted dismantling of agencies and entities created and funded by Congress and the bid to end birthright citizenship as examples of Trump's overreach.

The Tuesday statement defending the legitimacy of the courts stated that the judiciary's role is to defend against government overreach.

"These bold assertions, designed to intimidate judges by threatening removal if they do not rule the government's way, cross the line," the statement reads.

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