Joint Statement of the Bar Associations Listed Below

We, the undersigned bar associations, stand united in condemning the President’s orders targeting law firms. These actions violate fundamental principles of our legal system and undermine the right to counsel, the independence of the legal profession, and the rule of law.

Our justice system is premised on the principle that all individuals and entities – regardless of their political, social, or economic standing – are entitled to representation. This foundational principle is not a privilege granted at the discretion of those in power; it is a cornerstone of democracy, enshrined in our Constitution, and protected by our courts. Attempts to intimidate or penalize lawyers for representing clients whose interests do not align with those of the government are antithetical to our democracy, violate the rule of law, chill attorneys from fulfilling their ethical and professional obligations, and undermine our system of justice.

We call upon all branches of government to support the rule of law and the essential role of lawyers in our democracy, and to reject any efforts to use the tremendous power of the government against members of the legal profession for performing their duty. We further call upon our fellow members of the legal profession as well as members of the public at large to reject any attempt to harass or intimidate our country’s lawyers and judges for simply doing their jobs.

Metropolitan Bar Associations

Boston Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Bar Association of Erie County
King County Bar Association (Seattle)
Los Angeles County Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
New York County Lawyers Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
San Diego County Bar Association
Bar Association of San Francisco

Affiliate, Specialty, Regional, & Local Bar Associations

Asian American Bar Association of New York
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
Brehon Law Society of Nassau County
Brehon Law Society of New York
Defense Association of New York
Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York
Filipino Bar Association of Northern California
Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego
Hispanic National Bar Association
Iranian-American Bar Association
Irish American Bar Association of New York
Korean American Bar Association of Northern California
Legal Aid Association of California
LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York
Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association
Metropolitan Black Bar Association
Mexican American Bar Association
Monroe County Bar Association
Muslim Bar Association of New York
Muslim Bar Association of Southern California
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Bar Association
National Employment Lawyers Association/New York
New York Council of Defense Lawyers
New York Criminal Bar Association
New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
New York State Defenders Association
Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Palestinian American Bar Association
Puerto Rican Bar Association of New York
Rockland County Bar Association
San Fernando Valley Bar Association
San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association
Westchester County Bar Association
Women Trial Lawyers Caucus
Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York

(Co-signers as of 4/22/25)

LACBA is thankful to the leadership of the New York City Bar Association for coordinating this statement. For the most current list, visit the New York City Bar Association statement web page. Bar Associations interested in signing this statement should email efriedman@nycbar.org