As we write this in early May of 2025, we have deep concerns about what is going on in Washington, D.C., with multiple executive orders from the President that are coming down against law firms. About 45 days ago, we began to see executive orders against a number of big law firms, and some of them have capitulated and relented to the administration's wishes as to doing pro bono work for the administration. However, some of these law firms, including one very near us in Chicago, Jenner & Block, have not - and they've decided to fight back.

Our firm has decided to show our support by signing on to what's called a friend of the court brief, an amicus brief. The briefs are filed with the court to show our support and the rationale behind it, as Jenner & Block takes on a legal fight against the Administration. Hundreds of other firms have joined in signing, as well.  There are other firms that have fought back besides Jenner & Block. Susman Godfrey is one of those, and that was our most recent amicus brief signature, to show our support for that firm. We have signed four briefs in total as of today.

Let’s discuss why we have decided to defend our fellow brother and sister lawyers.

We have been practicing law for a combined 80 years. In Trump's first 100 days in office, we've signed on to four amicus briefs - the first four we've ever signed, by the way. It’s clear we are in a Constitutional crisis and that the Trump administration is going after the rule of law in this country.

He's attacked lawyers. He's now attacked judges. He's ignoring the United States Supreme Court and numerous other federal district courts, and we are the last line of defense. If Congress won't step up, the only remaining branch to act is the judicial branch. We have to support one another, and it is deeply distressing to watch some of our brethren roll over and show their underbelly. It is frankly, just not right. For those firms like Jenner & Block that are standing up, we must support one another. As lawyers, this is what we do day in and day out. We fight for our democracy.

That's the great irony here: the firms that we are supporting, like Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey and Perkins Coie, are usually the ones that are defending the interests of corporate America in cases where we are fighting for the rights of our clients.

So why is that important that we support the firms we fight against in court? Because we are standing for the rule of law. We are standing for the principle that the executive does not get to dictate unilaterally what the law is. And by picking on these law firms, by going after the silk stocking, corporate law firms are telling the rest of us, we're coming for you next.

Here's something that is really, really troubling. This has everything to do with the oath that we took and that a new lawyer is taking today, and that is to uphold the Constitution. We grew up understanding that you respect beyond any reproach the Supreme Court, whether it's the Supreme Court of a state or the United States Supreme Court, when the Supreme Court issues a ruling or an order, that's the last word. And right now, that is NOT happening.

You have an entire administration that is making a mockery of and challenging the United States Supreme Court. They are daring them to enforce their orders, and they're making the argument that the executive is the branch that has the military, and the judicial branch has the attorney general's office. The administration doesn’t think the Supreme Court can enforce the orders, and that creates a Constitutional challenge.

That's the bluff that the Trump administration is calling: the rule of law that was established in Marbury v. Madison, which has guided us for 250 years, is being challenged in the first 100 days of this administration. If we don't stand for the rule of law, then what do we stand for? What else is there?

We believe that's really the danger. We have discussed that by mowing down the lawyers; by clearing the path of lawyers, the danger is far beyond our jobs and our clients; the threat is at the street level. In recent months, American citizens have been pulled off the street and have been taken forcibly out of this country and put in prisons of other countries. The only thing that can protect people on the street is the rule of law. And right now, the President of the United States has said that he is supreme. He is the king.

Shakespeare had it right. If you want to be a king, the first thing you do is kill all the lawyers, and you take out the legal system. And that's what's happening right now. You take out the lawyers, you challenge the judges, you ignore the Supreme Court. We are watching it happen in real time.

People may say, “I voted for Trump and he's doing a great job right now. This administration is doing what we want to do on immigration. We have to give this time.” We’ve heard that, but let's call it what it is: even if you're an American citizen and you're lawfully driving down the street and let's say you happened to be the wrong skin color, or maybe it's someone who looks like us, but has more liberal views. Those people are now at risk with what's happening.

Regardless of whether you're a Democrat or Republican, whether you support the president's immigration policies or not, the core of our country is due process. Who's going to decide if you belong in this country or not? If it's not the court system and you want to leave it up to an individual who's just deciding what they like based on the color of your skin, or how you pronounce your name or your politics, then that is not America - you are in a dictatorship.

We are also hearing there was an executive order signed wherein the administration is now going to use those pro bono hours that they extracted from the firms that capitulated. Those firms are being told that they are going to be offering pro bono representation to police officers who are being sued.

Our firm handled the George Floyd case, and Trump has blackmailed corporate lawyers to defend the individuals, the perpetrators of the George Floyds of the world. That's what's playing out in real time.

We aren’t scared easily, but we are getting anxious, because the administration’s strategy is making it very, very unpredictable. That's what's going on right now. God help us, because that's what this administration is doing. We must stay in this fight. We have to continue to rally together and fight against what we know, because it's not only about us. It's about everybody.

It's been about the rule of law and the people. We are a country of the Declaration of Independence, of the Constitution and all the amendments, and those are being scattered before our very eyes.

If you think that what we're saying has any ring of truth to it or anything that would interest others, we encourage you to share it or reach out to us. This is the first time we have ever done anything like this, but we are all in uncharted waters, and we need to stick together.

We must protect the rule of law.