{"id":130331,"date":"2025-08-12T13:13:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T21:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/08\/12\/aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T13:13:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T21:13:50","slug":"aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/08\/12\/aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law\/","title":{"rendered":"ABA Strikes Back At Trump, Condemning His Attacks On Lawyers And The Rule Of Law"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Yesterday, and the American Bar Association amped up their beef with President Donald Trump, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/directories\/policy\/annual-2025\/509-annual-2025.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">adopting a resolution <\/a>condemning his attempts to retaliate against\u00a0\u201clawyers, law firms, or other organizations for representing or having represented any particular client or cause disfavored by the government.\u201d The ABA\u2019s resolution also criticizes threats to impeach judges \u201cbased solely on disagreement with the merits of the rulings made by those judges.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In almost any other era, these are uncontroversial statements that do the bare minimum to defend the rule of law. But of course, we live in the hellscape of 2025, and the Trump administration <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/tag\/executive-orders\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">has done<\/a> those <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/donald-trump-wants-to-impeach-judge-who-dared-to-explain-basic-con-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">exact things<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So, the resolution is particularly pointed. But the ABA and the Trump administration have been going at it. The <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/06\/trump-sued-by-aba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA sued Trump, et al. <\/a>over the campaign to bully lawyers. The admin is threatening to strip the organization of its<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/aba-law-school-accreditation-days-may-be-numbered\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> law school accreditation function<\/a>. The DOJ cut the <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/doj-ditches-aba-judicial-vetting-because-being-qualified-is-too-woke\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA out of the judicial vetting<\/a> process. The <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/abas-diversity-requirement-suspension-not-enough-for-pam-bondi\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA got in<\/a> hot water<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/aba-takes-a-stand-against-trump-administration-probes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> over its diversity <\/a>initiatives.  The <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/ftc-cuts-ties-with-american-bar-association\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FTC cut ties<\/a> with the organization and DOJ attorneys<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/american-bar-association-adopts-resolution-against-trumps-law-firm-crackdown-2025-08-11\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> can\u2019t participate<\/a> in ABA events. <\/p>\n<p>One mission of the Trump II reign is to undermine the rule of law, with this resolution the ABA is (<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/over-50-bar-organizations-stand-up-for-the-rule-of-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">again<\/a>) signaling they\u2019ll do their best to stand in the way of the authoritarian push.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg?resize=174%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\">Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of <a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email <a href=\"mailto:kathryn@abovethelaw.com?subject=Your%20Column\" target='_blank\"' rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/08\/aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law\/%E2%80%9C\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1%22%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/08\/aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1@mastodon.social.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/08\/aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA Strikes Back At Trump, Condemning His Attacks On Lawyers And The Rule Of Law<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-single__featured-image post-single__featured-image--medium alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2217514837-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><figcaption class=\"post-single__featured-image-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo by Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images)\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Yesterday, and the American Bar Association amped up their beef with President Donald Trump, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/directories\/policy\/annual-2025\/509-annual-2025.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">adopting a resolution <\/a>condemning his attempts to retaliate against\u00a0\u201clawyers, law firms, or other organizations for representing or having represented any particular client or cause disfavored by the government.\u201d The ABA\u2019s resolution also criticizes threats to impeach judges \u201cbased solely on disagreement with the merits of the rulings made by those judges.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In almost any other era, these are uncontroversial statements that do the bare minimum to defend the rule of law. But of course, we live in the hellscape of 2025, and the Trump administration <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/tag\/executive-orders\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">has done<\/a> those <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/donald-trump-wants-to-impeach-judge-who-dared-to-explain-basic-con-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">exact things<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So, the resolution is particularly pointed. But the ABA and the Trump administration have been going at it. The <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/06\/trump-sued-by-aba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA sued Trump, et al. <\/a>over the campaign to bully lawyers. The admin is threatening to strip the organization of its<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/aba-law-school-accreditation-days-may-be-numbered\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> law school accreditation function<\/a>. The DOJ cut the <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/doj-ditches-aba-judicial-vetting-because-being-qualified-is-too-woke\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA out of the judicial vetting<\/a> process. The <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/abas-diversity-requirement-suspension-not-enough-for-pam-bondi\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ABA got in<\/a> hot water<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/aba-takes-a-stand-against-trump-administration-probes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> over its diversity <\/a>initiatives.  The <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/02\/ftc-cuts-ties-with-american-bar-association\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FTC cut ties<\/a> with the organization and DOJ attorneys<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/american-bar-association-adopts-resolution-against-trumps-law-firm-crackdown-2025-08-11\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> can\u2019t participate<\/a> in ABA events. <\/p>\n<p>One mission of the Trump II reign is to undermine the rule of law, with this resolution the ABA is (<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/over-50-bar-organizations-stand-up-for-the-rule-of-law\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">again<\/a>) signaling they\u2019ll do their best to stand in the way of the authoritarian push.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg?resize=174%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\">Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of <a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#a2c9c3d6cad0dbcce2c3c0cdd4c7d6cac7cec3d58cc1cdcf9dd1d7c0c8c7c1d69ffbcdd7d0879092e1cdced7cfcc\" target=\"_blank&quot;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/08\/aba-strikes-back-at-trump-condemning-his-attacks-on-lawyers-and-the-rule-of-law\/%E2%80%9C\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1%22%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon <a href=\"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@Kathryn1%22%22\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@[email\u00a0protected].<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yesterday, and the American Bar Association amped up their beef with President Donald Trump, adopting a resolution condemning his attempts to retaliate against\u00a0\u201clawyers, law firms, or other organizations for representing or having represented any particular client or cause disfavored by the government.\u201d The ABA\u2019s resolution also criticizes threats to impeach judges \u201cbased solely on disagreement [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":130317,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568-ZZDayG.jpg?fit=620%2C568&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=130331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/130331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/130317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=130331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=130331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=130331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}