### NYC Bar Association Mobilizes Against Threats to Rule of Law Under Trump Administration
Hundreds of New York City lawyers gathered at the historic NYC Bar Association on Monday night for an urgent discussion titled *”Defending Justice: Mobilizing the Legal Profession to Stand Up for the Rule of Law.”* The meeting, far from its usual decorous tone, became a rallying cry for resistance against what attendees described as unprecedented attacks on judicial independence and executive overreach by the Trump administration. Lawyers called for lawsuits, protests, and op-eds to counter threats to judges, defiance of court orders, and controversial executive orders targeting major law firms like Paul Weiss and Perkins Coie. Bar Association President Muhammad U. Faridi emphasized that lawyers must serve the law, not the executive branch, declaring, *”What we are witnessing today is not normal—and it must not be normalized.”*
### Big Law Divided: Capitulation vs. Defiance
A central theme of the discussion was the growing rift between law firms that have complied with Trump’s executive orders—citing national security and diversity concerns—and those fighting back in court. While firms like Paul Weiss struck a $940 million pro bono deal with the administration, others, including Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, have resisted, earning praise for their commitment to pro bono work. Retired federal judge Shira A. Scheindlin drew applause by criticizing capitulating firms, arguing that collective resistance could have nullified what she called *”clearly unconstitutional orders.”* Meanwhile, ethical concerns and fear of professional retaliation loomed large, with some lawyers admitting they masked their identities at protests or worried about FBI raids on their offices.
### Fear, Hope, and the Fight Ahead
Despite palpable anger and anxiety, the event also highlighted glimmers of hope. Panelists pointed to Harvard University’s lawsuit against the administration, the Supreme Court’s intervention to halt deportations, and even public backlash in conservative states like Iowa over due process violations. Civil rights attorney Ilann Maazel cited these developments as signs of resilience, urging lawyers—including retirees—to step up in defense of targeted individuals. Yet, threats against judges, including harassment mimicking the murder of a federal judge’s son, underscored the high stakes. As Scheindlin warned, *”Can you imagine if we did not have a judiciary right now? Every one of these executive orders would be carried out.”* The evening ended with a call to action: the legal profession must unite to protect democracy before it’s too late.
(*Correction: An earlier version misstated the outcome of the attack on Judge Esther Salas’s family; her son was killed, and her husband wounded.*)
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Forrás: https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-bar-association-trump-resistance-big-law-2025-4.