WASHINGTON—On Thursday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor underscored the critical role that lawyers play in safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s legal system, particularly during times when it faces significant challenges. She emphasized the obligation of legal professionals to “stand up for people who can’t do it themselves” and to become “the champions of lost causes.” Her comments come amid recent intensifying criticisms of federal judges and the targeting of prestigious law firms through executive actions by President Donald Trump.
Justice Sotomayor addressed these vital themes during her speech at an event organized by a division of the American Bar Association in the nation’s capital, without directly mentioning President Trump. Her statements surfaced in the wake of other notable remarks on judicial independence, including an appearance by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts in Buffalo, New York, where he affirmed the essential role of the judiciary in “checking the excesses of the Congress or the executive.”
Additionally, just last week, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a stern rebuke against the increasing attacks on judges, describing such assaults as “an attack on democracy.” Although she refrained from naming Trump explicitly, her comments further highlighted the growing concern over the threat to judicial autonomy.
These discussions are unfolding as the Trump administration faces a mounting number of emergency appeals in the Supreme Court, fueled by opposition his conservative policies have encountered in lower courts. The president and his allies have often responded with potent criticisms of judges who have hindered parts of Trump’s agenda, which have at times evolved into deeply personal criticisms. Concurrently, elite law firms that have worked on cases contrary to Trump’s interests have become targets of his administration, leading them to either counteract in court or reach settlements.
The American Bar Association has notably taken a stand by suing President Trump over the termination of federal grants and has also faced presidential threats concerning its role in accrediting law schools, linked to its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. These developments highlight the strained dynamics between the legal community and the current administration, further emphasizing the need for vigilance and advocacy in securing justice.