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We live in a country that says it believes in the rule of law. To me, that means that I have certain freedoms and rights under the United States Constitution and laws and can take action when those freedoms or rights are impinged or threatened. One way is to hire an attorney to bring a lawsuit to challenge the situation. My ability to do that depends on there being attorneys available to represent me in such cases.
I am disturbed by the attacks on law firms that I am seeing. No less than four Executive Orders have been issued by President Donald Trump targeting law firms that have brought suits challenging policies and actions of the administration or have attorneys who are in the crosshairs for past grievances.
Shockingly, some of those firms are making concessions and deals in the, probably futile, attempt to protect themselves. Three large law firms even made deals before an actual Executive Order was signed. Kneeling to a bully only emboldens the bully.
Also concerning is the Executive Order issued March 22, 2025, titled "Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court." This order directs a review of all legal actions filed against the government over the last eight years to find lack of "good faith," "rampant fraud and meritless claims" and "grossly unethical misconduct."
Such actions impact not only the individual firms, but have a chilling effect across the legal system. It can make lawyers and firms decline to represent clients with serious legal claims thus quieting opposition. This is not the American way.
A bully by any other name is still a bully.
Linda Gunn
Hopewell