The Legal System Under Siege - Andrew Weissmann

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I want to talk directly about something deeply troubling—and increasingly dangerous—that I’ve been watching unfold: the concerted attacks on lawyers, law firms, and judges.

These aren’t isolated incidents. They appear as a coordinated strategy to discredit and intimidate legal actors who dare to challenge the Trump administration. At stake is preservation of the ability of our legal system to function without fear or favor. When lawyers are targeted for representing unpopular clients, and judges face threats for upholding the law, we risk undoing the very prerequisites that make justice possible.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen White House executive orders targeting three of the country’s most respected law firms—Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, and Paul Weiss. I was especially alarmed by Paul Weiss’s decision not to fight back in court, despite precedent suggesting they could prevail (as Perkins Coie did). Instead, reports suggest it reached a quiet agreement that includes tens of millions in pro bono work aligned with the administration’s values, and a review and chilling of its DEI commitments. That kind of capitulation sends a dire message to the entire profession: that upholding principle might come at too high a cost. It undermines our ability to stand up for the rule of law when it matters most.

Equally distressful are efforts that intimidate judges—through public threats, articles of impeachment, and improvident motions to remove them from cases. This is not how our justice system works: we don’t get to swap out referees mid-game because we don’t like the calls. And yet that’s exactly what’s happening.

Judges need to know the public—and the profession—has their backs. If we allow these tactics to go unchecked, we’re conceding ground that once lost, will be difficult to regain. That’s why I hope, if you concur, we must stand together and be heard in defense of our institutions, our profession, and the rule of law itself. - 03/23/2025.


00:00 – Attacks on the Legal System: An Overview
01:09 – Undermining Good Faith Litigation
02:15 – Executive Orders Target Covington, Perkins Coie, and Paul Weiss
04:35 – Paul Weiss Declines to Fight Back
06:00 – The $40 Million Pro Bono Settlement & DEI Concessions
08:12 – Government Overreach and Private Firm Autonomy
10:00 – Chilling Effect on Lawyers and Legal Challenges
13:30 – Executive Orders and the Targeting of Plaintiffs’ Counsel
16:55 – Escalating Attacks on Judges and the Judiciary
22:29 – What We Can Do: Standing Up for the Rule of Law