There’s been a lot of news lately about Trump targeting lawyers and law firms that have challenged him in court. Much has been written about major law firms that have caved, and some who’ve stood up to him. Including by me. Trump HATES anyone standing up to him, but lawyers and law firms can and have won civil judgements and more recently criminal convictions against him. Had Chief Justice Roberts not intervened (roping the other five GOP appointees on SCOTUS into his f**kery) Trump would almost certainly have had more criminal convictions in 2024 and wouldn’t be in the WH now. Wrecking not just the economy but the legal system Roberts so reveres. What matters is that Trump is vindictive as hell, and he’s been going after lawyers and law firms as I’ve said. Seemingly lost in all this is Trump’s after a legal entity even bigger – the American Bar Association!
Along with other outlets I found after a search, last week CBS News reported Deputy AG Todd Blanchard, the same dude who (unsuccessfully) defended Trump in court sent a memo to the lawyers at DOJ essentially banning them from the ABA. Over 400,000 lawyers, judges, and law students are members making this the largest voluntary organization of legal professionals in the U.S. Most folks don’t pay attention to them except perhaps when nominations for SCOTUS or other highly prominent legal positions come up. There’s a non-partisan committee that evaluates the nominees background and issues a rating of sorts regarding whether they are unqualified, qualified or highly qualified.
I don’t see them regularly filing cases like smaller legal groups, for example the ACLU or Southern Poverty Law Center, or on the right wing Judicial Watch. They’re more of an ‘umbrella’ organization that represents the protection of the rule of law and those who practice it in general. However as we see when their profession, and/or the rule of law itself is threatened they can take legal action like anyone else. Now, having directly as an organization the ABA has formally challenged Trump in court. That now has them on his “enemies” list and Trump has deployed the Department of Justice itself to exact retribution:
The ABA sparked the ire of the Trump administration when it joined the legal challenge against Mr. Trump’s executive order decimating foreign aid. The organization has also been criticized by Justice Department leaders for its efforts to promote diversity in accrediting law schools.
On Feb. 28, Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to the ABA and accused the organization of unlawful race and sex discrimination through its diversity policies. In that letter, Bondi expressed surprise and concern that state bar associations still permitted travel and participation in ABA events.
So what we have is the ABA as an organization taking on Trump in court, and Trump’s AG expressing anger on his behalf at them. Of course as far as Trump’s concerned the entire DOJ is his very own PERSONAL law firm. The biggest one in the U.S. (world even?) with a boatload of highly talented and experienced lawyers. It’s leader, the Attorney General ripped on the ABA at the end of February but that wasn’t good enough. Blanche wouldn’t have sent out that memo without Bondi telling him to do so. As I wrote recently Trump might finally have his very own “Roy Cohn” who did mentoring of Trump when he was young. But the notorious Cohn was always first and foremost was Trump’s dad’s guy. If you thought judge Aileen “Loose” Cannon was in the tank for Trump she’s a lightweight compared to Bondi. Like I said, just publicly spouting a bunch of hooey at the ABA wasn’t good enough for her.
Via Deputy AG Blanche Bondi (and Trump) have made things official. If they value their jobs and careers DOJ employees are to cut ties with the ABA! NO taking part in ABA activities, especially using any taxpayer funds. I don’t know what expenses get racked up in any given year but DOJ lawyers would most assuredly take part in certain ABA meetings and conferences. They’d also interact with the ABA as a matter of course. All that is now officially forbidden according to a memo from Blanche obtained by CBS:
In the memo dated Friday and shared with Justice Department employees, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered that “the Department of Justice will no longer use taxpayer funds to pay for any travel to or engagement with ABA events. Additionally, department employees may not, when acting in their official capacities, speak at, attend, or otherwise participate in events hosted by the ABA.”
The memo from Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s private defense attorney, blasts the American Bar Association as “activist” and willing to “insert itself into pending litigation.” The ABA is a professional organization for lawyers, judges and law students in the U.S., and with about 400,000 members, it’s the largest voluntary professional organization for lawyers in the world.
Since I first learned about this DOJ action today I skimmed articles from different outlets and one of them mentioned the memo I referred to even telling DOJ employees who were members not to take action when it was time to renew their memberships! Talk about over the line, petty and certainly a violation of the 1st Amendment! I’m surprised this didn’t turn into a big deal. Yes, as I said multiple print outlets published something about it but on TV where most people get most of their news when I’ve seen the talking heads discuss Trump going after law firms this hasn’t come up. And the memo went out over a week ago.
I figure it’s worth mentioning here because a 400k-plus group of lawyers is one big gorilla for even the DOJ to take on. It might just turn into a true battle, and an ugly one so put a pin in this.
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What do you call 500 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start. For those who’ve never been thrown into prison without cause, because of unjustified laws, keep on believing in the illusion of the law representing good. IT’S A LIE. They are usually those too afraid to meet the unknowns awaiting true searchers willing to RISK, and they proceed to move from college to law school…one potential path to power and riches; just learn to vomit up what’s given to you. And THESE are our saviors? Don’t bet your ass on it. As Dylan sang: you went to the finest schools alright ms. lonely, but you know you only got juiced in it. These phuckers and their lack of moral standards IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE. Remember Hitler murdered 11 million in the 40,000 camps LEGALLY!!!!!!!! Jesus was LEGALLY tortured and crucified. As someone who stole NOTHING, hurt no one, and did no harm to anyone, including the parole board admitting I should never have been charged, much less railroaded into the penitentiary, I learned long ago the law is just the people in power who have the guns. FACT. Meanwhile we let a career criminal who’s responsible for SIX THOUSAND CHILDREN SEPARATED AT THE BORDER AND A MILLION PLUS KILLED BY HIS LYING AND INACTION AROUND COVID TO STEAL THE OFFICE. Anyone who thinks these politicians are going to stop this are smoking crack. Words never stop murderous serial killers…so sheep…KEEP BLEATING…music to the ears of wolves. BAAAAA. BAAA. BAA. BA. B. DOA.
At least we veterans have weapons training and like the Seals…we been hammered with stressors in order to remain calm in the face of danger. Ive been in training for 71 years…You? Better wake up and start to realize this will only change WITH US RISING UP TO FIGHT…FACT.
SEALS
Like you, I don’t want to go out and start any shit but if they DO come for me I’ll be going to hell in a crowd.
Sorry to disagree with you marine, but, if you stand with the highest ideals of the Constitution, and you honor your oath to defend freedom from tyranny, HELL isn’t your destination. You are defending the very people Jesus asked us to defend…the powerless, the oppressed, the poor, the outcast, the people we meet on the road who need our help. The goddamn golden rule. One of my favorite parables is where people meet Jesus in the afterlife, and the ones who expected him to acknowledge them were rebuffed. Then there was a group he did acknowledge who were perplexed because they didn’t know him during their life. He said…whenever you helped the poor and dispossessed, you were helping him.
“what the Church has done to Jesus is what the governor of California wants to do to the redwoods…take a wild and wonderful thing and turn it into den furniture.” Your brother in arms
I use going to hell in a crowd as an expression. I’m agnostic and don’t believe in heaven or hell except for the either good or bad experiences we have during this life. Some are lucky enough to have long stretches where life is, if not great then comfortable without major problems or worries. Some live extremely tough lives, and often through no fault of their own. That’s hell as far as I’m concerned.
Mainly if some group of MAGA goobers whether Meal Team Six types or ICE agents, etc. they have to cart off my corpse. But I intend to make sure I’m not the only dead one that gets zipped into a body bag.
Trump and his hand-picked cronies are picking a LEGAL fight with The American Bar Association, AND The Harvard Law School, (with the rest of Harvard University along for the ride)?
Trump and HIS people? In a legal fight against the BEST LAWYERS in the world?
I’m getting popcorn.
I.am.expressing concern that Bleached Bondi can think considering how much ammonia she’s poured on her head and thus inhaled.
Now now…she’s the PEOPLE’S ATTORNEY, protecting us from tyranny! Don’t you feel better now?