“I find it breathtaking that I have been compelled on the evidence to find the conduct of such high-level officers of our government — cabinet secretaries — conspired to infringe the First Amendment rights of people ... www.politico.com/news/2026/01...

President Trump is once again threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, this time in Minneapolis. That would be a flagrant and particularly dangerous abuse of the Act—one that would threaten the rule of law and public safety alike. 1/13

There is a palpable grief in this country due to a recognition that the U.S. government is unbounded by the rule of law. Every day, we watch in horror as masked ICE agents operate in military-style tactical gear, creating chaos in American cities. 1/3 prod.cdn.everyaction.com/emails/van/T...

👏 We commend Jerome Powell for his service to the Constitution and to the American people. In a democracy, the law should treat each citizen equally. DOJ should not look for reasons to bring cases against people because a president is frustrated with them.

While we are all rightly focused on Minneapolis, Jerome Power, Venezuela, and other issues, this administration is quietly trying to change how we vote. In this article @michaelcohen212.bsky.social talks about these efforts and the court's response. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...

We keep asking the same question as @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social: Which is it to be? A stand for liberty in the spirit of Thomas Paine, or acquiescence to the depredations of our own mad King George? The rule of law or the rule of Trump? We choose the law. www.thebulwark.com/p/we-have-ki...

In Chief Justice Robert's Year-End Report, he yet again shifts reality. Amherst's Austin Sarat and our Executive Director Lauren Stiller Rikleen explain how the Chief Justice's musings miss the mark and ignore what his Court is doing to undermine democracy. verdict.justia.com/2026/01/08/c...

As 2026 begins, we know many of you are asking what you can do to protect our democracy. This recent substack by @rbreich.bsky.social has some excellent suggestions. We would add an 11th one -- join our Meeting the Moment efforts. robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-c...

In the wake of January 6, 2021 -- 5 years ago today -- we put out a challenge to all lawyers that we repeat today. We need lawyers to stand up for our democracy. This is even more true today than it was 5 years ago. Why? ⬇️ 1/2 ldad.org/letters-brie...

Tomorrow is the 5th anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. It is a good time to read this excellent editorial from @nytimes.com which explains the dangers of not holding leaders accountable when they break the law... and explains where we are today. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...

Since its inception, LDAD has pioneered the preparation and filing of ethics complaints with state bar disciplinary authorities that seek to hold accountable attorneys who have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct in service of efforts to undermine core principles of democracy. 1/3

Our founders were clear about their views of kings -- they felt they often easily slipped into autocracy and tyranny. One of the reasons Washington is most celebrated as our 1st president is that he eschewed the trappings of kings. So now our president is imperial? 1/2 tinyurl.com/3eh3cp7b

Lawyers Defending American Democracy has just released its 2025 Annual Report. We urge you all to read it and to consider joining us in our important work. If you take one thing away from this it is... 1/5 ldad.org/letters-brie...

The Boston Bar Association's recent letter speaks to what all lawyers should commit to for 2026. "The oath we swore demands independent judgment, unwavering integrity, and the courage to push back..." 1/3 bostonbar.org/news/enterin...

The key question Michael Popok asks in this episode of @legalafmtn.bsky.social is "Where are the lawyers?" This is the question LDAD is here to answer. LDAD chair Scott Harbarger and ED Laureen Stiller Rikleen explain how LDAD is working to address this. Please share this vital conversation.

That the WH is not hiding the fact that they are using DoJ to "settle scores" is appalling. One of the things that we rely on in a democracy is the Rule of Law. Critical to maintaining the rule of law is that we are ALL treated equally by the law. Period. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/u...

We should all read this article and the Bondi Memo. As Brzozowski points out, "the Bondi memo functions as an operational order. It instructs agents, analysts, and grant makers what to do next and with whom, and those orders will hit real people and organizations almost immediately."

Yesterday's news that yet another grand jury failed to indict NG AG Letitia James on mortgage fraud is proof of two things: 1) This case was more about retaliation than the law. 2) That our grand jury system continues to work for all of us. abcnews.go.com/US/2nd-time-...

What was the case about independent agencies about? “You’re asking us to destroy the structure of government and to take away from Congress its ability to protect its idea that the government is better structured with some agencies that are independent,” Sotomayor said." ⬇️

Yesterday, in a ruling that lacked any pretense of careful deliberation, SCOTUS used its emergency docket to green light a gerrymandered redistricting map in Texas – one created at the behest of the administration. This reverses a decision from the District Court. 1/7

What have we been doing? We recently filed an amicus brief in Trump v. Slaughter urging SCOTUS not to treat all multimember independent regulatory commissions created by Congress as executive agencies wholly controlled by the President. ldad.org/letters-brie...

LDAD volunteer James Kobak has written this wonderful article. "[Our] system is being challenged & is at a dangerous tipping point. One branch, Congress, has been dormant, basically ignoring its primary responsibility to enact laws that will govern us ..." Read more ⬇️

For the past 24 hours, we have heard a lot about what is within the law and what is outside concerning the actions of our military. This article in @justsecurity.org offers an excellent explanation of what is lawful and what is outside the law. www.justsecurity.org/125948/illeg...

This article from @reuters.com is a must read. As they point out, "the scale and systematic nature of Trump’s effort to punish perceived enemies marks a sharp break from long-standing norms in U.S. governance." 🧵 www.reuters.com/investigates...

Want to understand more about Amicus briefs? Our Pam Bondi complaint? Why we are so concerned about these attacks on the rule of law? Listen to LDAD's ED, Lauren Stiller Rikleen on @legalafmtn.bsky.social talk about this year and next. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIqu...

In the discussion over the military and illegal orders, what does the law say? @davidcole-gtown.bsky.social offers an excellent primer in the @nytimes.com. A must read for those who may find themselves in conversations about this over turkey tomorrow. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...

"We are witnessing attempts to undermine and attack judges — and through them, the rule of law — on a scale unprecedented in the more than half-century that I have been a lawyer." Says LDAD volunteer James B. Kobak, Jr. Read his article to learn why. www.timesunion.com/opinion/arti...

Why were the cases against James Comey and Letitia James thrown out? Because the judge found that the prosecutor was illegally appointed. In other words, her appointment violated the Constitution's Appointments Clause. What does that mean? 🧵 apnews.com/article/come...

Thank you, @amyspitalnick.bsky.social for your words. Political violence and violent extremism have no place in our democracy. We stand with you in speaking out against those leaders--on whatever side of the aisle--who use this kind of language.

Our Executive Director, Lauren Stiller Rikleen, recently spoke on a panel about The Rise of Authoritarianism: What's Happening to Our Rights. It's an important conversation about where we are today and why we all need to recognize what is happening. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjaT...

📣 Have you signed up for Thursday's webinar? If not, there is still time. Sign up now ⬇️ ldad.org/letters-brie...

The rule of law depends on a functioning government. Even though the shutdown has ended, court-appointed defense lawyers and their clients are still stuck in delays and backlogs — meaning constitutional rights for many are still on hold. #RuleOfLaw #AccessToJustice

Our elected officials represent us. We must hold them accountable. This is not the time to give up, it is a time to Meet the Moment. We wholeheartedly agree with @joycewhitevance.bsky.social. Don't give up, speak out.

📌 This report on Fox News from @propublica.org is incredibly disturbing. Disinformation appears to be the basis for both a presidential decision and for a piece of popular support. We need our media sources to tell us the truth. Fox News must do better. Why? 🧵 www.propublica.org/article/port...

Last night on @pbsnews.org Judge Mark L. Wolf offered a brilliant explanation of democracy. 📣 "[D]emocracy is the rule of law. And if court orders are disobeyed, then the president has absolute power. Judges don't have armies to enforce their orders..." 🧵 www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

#VeteransDay #Democracy #Service

We celebrate Judge Mark L. Wolf's decision to resign from the bench so he can work to preserve our democracy. His description of what justice means is clear: That is how justice is supposed to be administered—equally for everyone, without fear or favor. This is the opposite of what is happening now.

Are you concerned about recent challenges to free speech? Our recent webinar, Free Speech Under Siege: Echoes of McCarthyism is worth watching. Gary Simpson, Erwin Chemerinsky, Kermit Roosevelt, and Nadine Strossen have an important conversation. 🧵 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm6p...

What is at issue in the tariffs case the Supreme Court heard yesterday? One critical issue is separation of powers as described in the Constitution. Interested in learning more? @scotusblog.com has an excellent recap.

🥳 As an organization committed to democracy, we are celebrating today. Why? Because so many Americans went to the polls and cast their votes yesterday. NYC and VA saw their highest turnouts in a non presidential election. This is Democracy In Action. cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-...

SCOTUS has increasingly been issuing orders and/or making decisions on the shadow docket. What does this mean? Why are so many lawyers so worried about this? @rbreich.bsky.social explains it beautifully. youtu.be/xtiISydG9l0?...

We are actively responding to the extraordinary threats facing our nation. We have filed numerous amicus briefs, profiled Project 2025’s authoritarian roots & its ties to recent executive actions, launched our Meeting the Moment initiative & so much else. Please support our work. ldad.org/donate

Are you concerned about the rise of authoritarianism? LDAD's Executive Director, Lauren Stiller Rikleen, is speaking about this as part of an impressive panel sponsored by the Newburyport Bar Association. Thursday, November 6th. Sign up now. gnba.ticketbud.com/the-rise-of-...

📌 Register NOW for our Nov. 20 webinar, From the Social Media Feed to the Courtroom: How Judges and Jurors Remain Impartial. We'll have a conversation about the impact of the constant barrage of social media and public commentary on judicial proceedings. 🧵 ldad.org/letters-brie...

James B. Kobak, an @ldadorg.bsky.social volunteer, recently wrote an article for the Albany Times Union on the administration's ongoing attempts to undermine and attack judges. He has thoughts on why they may be doing this and what it means for the rule of law. www.timesunion.com/opinion/arti...

The administration's actions in the Caribbean attacking small boats they say are ferrying drugs is another way they are flouting the law. This article in the @nytimes.com offers the many reasons these actions deviate from the past and reveal legal gaps. 🧵 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...

"It is becoming clearer than ever that the rule of law in the White House has depended chiefly on norms — on government lawyers willing to raise objections when merited and to resign in protest if ignored, and on presidents who want to appear law-abiding." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/u...

Free speech is under siege. Join us on Tues, Nov. 4 @ 4pmET to learn more & to hear from Gary Simpson of @merceruniversity.bsky.social, Erwin Chemerinsky of @ucberkeleylaw.bsky.social, Kermit Roosevelt of Penn Carey Law School, and Nadine Strossen of New York Law School. ldad.org/letters-brie...

What is at stake if universities--and other parts of society--give into pressure from the administration. Michael Roth, the President of @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social laid it out brilliantly in his essay in @thebulwark.com. 🧵 www.thebulwark.com/p/colleges-u...

While this outcome has been widely reported, more attention should be paid to the what the judges said... "Political opposition is not rebellion. A protest does not become a rebellion merely because the protestors advocate for myriad legal or policy changes, are well organized..." 🧵