As a recently retired attorney I am glad I got out. I hated 99% of the people I graduated with from law school, several decades ago. What a bunch of back biting, back alley, sewer rats. No surprise any of them would not sacrifice their year end bonuses, jobs or self esteem. The HORROR.
I did know a few very trustworthy attorneys over the years. I was a labor attorney, negotiating over 20 union contracts. If you promised something, you delivered it. As soon as you lied, you were done. I never had a strike or walkout. Being honest is not hard but I see greed as destroying the legal profession. Too bad. It did not have to be.
That said, every member of Congress can be voir dired whether they support due process and rule of law.
Although Trump characterized the firms as "anti Trump", IMHO many if not most of the partners contributed to his campaigns. So did most of their clients.
Now to pay the piper, sadly! I know they also can be reported to the National Bar Assoc. with GOOD evidence of wrong doing and could possibly be disbarred! Which means they couldn't help trump any longer.
You can’t have rule of law without lawyers. There are many principled and ethical lawyers out there protecting civil liberties or facilitating collective projects that cannot be accomplished without enforceable promises. I’m one of them and I would prefer not to be blamed for the behavior of others.
Daniel, most firms donate equally to both parties. Thank you for posting the MRPR’s Rule 3.3, Candor towards the Tribunal.
When I represented the Company at Federal Arbitrations, I ran up against “less than truthful” testimony. Once, I was hundreds of miles away and a witness claimed I did, and said, several things in front of them. I produced an original document from another states’ State Supreme Court when I was sworn into their Bar Association on said day. Yeah, honesty can be far from court.
The American electorate after being lied to by a wanna be dictator who wanted to use the presidency as a get out of jail free card got a Fuhrer modeled after Hungary's Orban
Rand Paul(R Ten) said it best yesterday “After Republicans put the US into a Depression in 1930 with a tariff war Americans didn’t trust us with power for 60y” The Nazis have used the American electorate like a big experiment Test out a theory and see if it works
Nixon theorized that going off the gold standard would create unlimited government support and it has now led to a currency crisis at the height of a credit cycle and runaway inflation
Reagan theorized “trickle down economics” which by studies didn’t work and created the greatest wealth gap in history
George W theorized “weapons of mass destruction” and that got us the long Middle East War Under his watchful eye the Nazis created the real estate mortgage crisis which triggered the Great Recession in 2008
Now the Nazis and SCOTUS theorize that the Unitary Executive(UE) which gave us a Nazi strongman who will lead us to the Promised land or so Germany thought in the 1930’s But the UE has turned out to be a charlatan who will by most observers throw the country into a recession and possibly another depression 1930 is beginning to sound eerily reminiscent “You have to burn the whole thing down” says Curtis Yarvin and parroted by JD Vance with his wealthy billionaire cronies
Unfortunately the American electorate has a bad case of amnesia until catastrophe strikes Then everyone remembers the past
“The first thing we do is, let’s kill all the lawyers.” said by a character called Dick the Butcher in Act IV, Scene II of William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II, so maybe this "dishonesty" thing isn't so new after all!
It can be read another way. Butcher is trying to instigate a revolt against a divine monarch (something Shakespeare might have had a real problem endorsing). Perhaps the quote means that you have to rid yourself first of the lawyers and, therefore, the law before you can institute an overturn of the state, whether it is a democracy, or a monarchy, or any legal, established institution.
Maybe but we need the lawyers! The ones working for justice are working extremely hard and fighting the good fight against a dictator!! Let's stand for them and support them!
You misunderstood my comment. I was simply offering a different reading of the character, Butcher’s, urging. Shakespeare has created a character and through him is saying that the only way you can completely destroy a legal system is first by ridding yourselves of the very people who practice and support it, the lawyers. Butcher is not Shakespeare’s alter ego in the play, quite the opposite.
If the firms prevail\, Trump has exposure for malltious abuse of a legal proceeding, interference with contractural relations, even intentional infliction of emotional distress.
I know politics has its dirty side. But outright extortion by the President of the US on his personal behalf, is really a mind bender. There isn't even a whiff of righteous indignation on Trump's part. It's just straight ahead pay-back. I am disappointed and shaken that there are virtually no elected members of the GOP who will fight for the country's traditions and pride.
The firms that are caving are basically no different than for profit corporations like Google, Apple, Amazon, Disney etc. As they grew and morphed into revolving door entities, it stopped being about the law and became all about the money. IMO, the legal profession is better off without them. The legal entities suing the trump regime for it's illegal actions and taking on the cases of the victims now are primarily non-profits. They are likely better lawyers than the big corporate lawyers because they and the organizations they work for actually care about the law.
What we are seeing this day though is 47’s payback to everyone including those who supported and bent the knee to his royal assness. Lots and lots of financial losses-yes, to everyone unfortunately, but especially to those middling fat cats who are getting rattled by the fool in chief. What’s a few millions to those really big dogs in the ring?
I am a new subscriber. I did not subscribe because I need more information. Through creditable sources such as yours, I have more than enough data to consider. This week I subscribed to 9 sub stacks specifically because I want to support the crucial work you all are doing. I am hoping that our subscription dollars give you the financial resources needed to fight the good fight. We are counting on you, your expertise, your sources of truth, and your leadership to help us resist tyranny. You are our eyes and ears to the machinations not noticeable in our individual worlds until they are too large to overcome. Thank you for all you do!
These "powerful" law firms have decided it's cheaper to pay Trump's extortion demands than lose big-ticket clients. If they had leadership with actual spines, they could have fought and won!
The big money makers who only care about making money (easier to score big on one metric when it’s the only metric you focus on) would exit the firm and take their book of business to another firm. And so saying no has consequences. The consequences of saying yes are worse, of course, if you value living in a country with rule of law.
Trump is a classic Goliath. David understood the power of God / good, the power of right thinking. Remember where he aimed his one stone (although he had 4 others ready)? He aimed at Goliath's brain, where his thought was unprepared for the power that was behind David's aim. He fell to his death with one blow from a slingshot of all things. America is founded on high ideals, right thinking, principles with good motives. Honesty and integrity, even with a little fear, still have infinite power. And there's no reason to walk away from those values and principles as if they're meaningless if a big dumb lug comes along and thinks he holds all the power. He's wrong, people. He's nothing. So don't just hand it over to him. THINK!
Reminds me of what Michelle Obama once said in reference to political power, that it doesn’t define who you are, it reveals who you are. Guess that applies to accumulating great wealth as well.
Thank you Harry that was so in-depth that I don't know where to begin other than just say I'm so glad you are on our side of History. All of these people that are doing standing up for their beliefs and moral values no matter how hard to fight no matter the cost they are the true heroes here. As are you ⚖️💙💖
If these law firms are so big and powerful, why don't any of the know that extortion is a felony? If they can go after or defend the Mafia and high crimes companies, why not face off with King Shittinpants?
You are awesome, Mr. Litman. I am an attorney, but you explain what’s happening in the legal world in a clear and never condescending way so that everyone can learn from you. I love your articles.
As a recently retired attorney I am glad I got out. I hated 99% of the people I graduated with from law school, several decades ago. What a bunch of back biting, back alley, sewer rats. No surprise any of them would not sacrifice their year end bonuses, jobs or self esteem. The HORROR.
I did know a few very trustworthy attorneys over the years. I was a labor attorney, negotiating over 20 union contracts. If you promised something, you delivered it. As soon as you lied, you were done. I never had a strike or walkout. Being honest is not hard but I see greed as destroying the legal profession. Too bad. It did not have to be.
If they lie, can lose their license. I'd hope that the oath means something.
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_3_3_candor_toward_the_tribunal/
That said, every member of Congress can be voir dired whether they support due process and rule of law.
Although Trump characterized the firms as "anti Trump", IMHO many if not most of the partners contributed to his campaigns. So did most of their clients.
Now to pay the piper, sadly! I know they also can be reported to the National Bar Assoc. with GOOD evidence of wrong doing and could possibly be disbarred! Which means they couldn't help trump any longer.
State licensed.
Attorneys are destroying the "justice system; anything to win!! How much blame falls to the "premier" law schools.
You can’t have rule of law without lawyers. There are many principled and ethical lawyers out there protecting civil liberties or facilitating collective projects that cannot be accomplished without enforceable promises. I’m one of them and I would prefer not to be blamed for the behavior of others.
Daniel, most firms donate equally to both parties. Thank you for posting the MRPR’s Rule 3.3, Candor towards the Tribunal.
When I represented the Company at Federal Arbitrations, I ran up against “less than truthful” testimony. Once, I was hundreds of miles away and a witness claimed I did, and said, several things in front of them. I produced an original document from another states’ State Supreme Court when I was sworn into their Bar Association on said day. Yeah, honesty can be far from court.
The Strongman Republicans and Nazis
The American electorate after being lied to by a wanna be dictator who wanted to use the presidency as a get out of jail free card got a Fuhrer modeled after Hungary's Orban
Rand Paul(R Ten) said it best yesterday “After Republicans put the US into a Depression in 1930 with a tariff war Americans didn’t trust us with power for 60y” The Nazis have used the American electorate like a big experiment Test out a theory and see if it works
Nixon theorized that going off the gold standard would create unlimited government support and it has now led to a currency crisis at the height of a credit cycle and runaway inflation
Reagan theorized “trickle down economics” which by studies didn’t work and created the greatest wealth gap in history
George W theorized “weapons of mass destruction” and that got us the long Middle East War Under his watchful eye the Nazis created the real estate mortgage crisis which triggered the Great Recession in 2008
Now the Nazis and SCOTUS theorize that the Unitary Executive(UE) which gave us a Nazi strongman who will lead us to the Promised land or so Germany thought in the 1930’s But the UE has turned out to be a charlatan who will by most observers throw the country into a recession and possibly another depression 1930 is beginning to sound eerily reminiscent “You have to burn the whole thing down” says Curtis Yarvin and parroted by JD Vance with his wealthy billionaire cronies
Unfortunately the American electorate has a bad case of amnesia until catastrophe strikes Then everyone remembers the past
“The first thing we do is, let’s kill all the lawyers.” said by a character called Dick the Butcher in Act IV, Scene II of William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II, so maybe this "dishonesty" thing isn't so new after all!
Dishonesty is one thing but premeditated dishonesty to a group's advantage so as to trend an electorate for the group's long term gains is another
It can be read another way. Butcher is trying to instigate a revolt against a divine monarch (something Shakespeare might have had a real problem endorsing). Perhaps the quote means that you have to rid yourself first of the lawyers and, therefore, the law before you can institute an overturn of the state, whether it is a democracy, or a monarchy, or any legal, established institution.
Maybe but we need the lawyers! The ones working for justice are working extremely hard and fighting the good fight against a dictator!! Let's stand for them and support them!
You misunderstood my comment. I was simply offering a different reading of the character, Butcher’s, urging. Shakespeare has created a character and through him is saying that the only way you can completely destroy a legal system is first by ridding yourselves of the very people who practice and support it, the lawyers. Butcher is not Shakespeare’s alter ego in the play, quite the opposite.
Extortion.
If the firms prevail\, Trump has exposure for malltious abuse of a legal proceeding, interference with contractural relations, even intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Brilliant analysis!
I know politics has its dirty side. But outright extortion by the President of the US on his personal behalf, is really a mind bender. There isn't even a whiff of righteous indignation on Trump's part. It's just straight ahead pay-back. I am disappointed and shaken that there are virtually no elected members of the GOP who will fight for the country's traditions and pride.
Thanks for calling out this craven behavior Harry. Here's to Perkins Coie for holding the line at Thermopylae.
Yes, bravo to all the firms & attorneys who refused to be bullied by an unsuccessful con - one who has failed at most of his businesses.
Standing up to a bully is the only way to maintain integrity (not a concept the Felon is familiar with)!
I have been calling and leaving messages of thanks and gratefulness to the ones being strong and holding the line.
The firms that are caving are basically no different than for profit corporations like Google, Apple, Amazon, Disney etc. As they grew and morphed into revolving door entities, it stopped being about the law and became all about the money. IMO, the legal profession is better off without them. The legal entities suing the trump regime for it's illegal actions and taking on the cases of the victims now are primarily non-profits. They are likely better lawyers than the big corporate lawyers because they and the organizations they work for actually care about the law.
What we are seeing this day though is 47’s payback to everyone including those who supported and bent the knee to his royal assness. Lots and lots of financial losses-yes, to everyone unfortunately, but especially to those middling fat cats who are getting rattled by the fool in chief. What’s a few millions to those really big dogs in the ring?
The senior partners were just protecting their wealth. Ethics be damned. They should be disbarred.
Our job now is to pay attention to who uses the cowardly law firms and make our displeasure known, loudly.
I am a new subscriber. I did not subscribe because I need more information. Through creditable sources such as yours, I have more than enough data to consider. This week I subscribed to 9 sub stacks specifically because I want to support the crucial work you all are doing. I am hoping that our subscription dollars give you the financial resources needed to fight the good fight. We are counting on you, your expertise, your sources of truth, and your leadership to help us resist tyranny. You are our eyes and ears to the machinations not noticeable in our individual worlds until they are too large to overcome. Thank you for all you do!
To me it says these firm care more about money than Truth and the law. Sad day.
This is not a turn of events. This is an exposure of a pre-existing reality.
These "powerful" law firms have decided it's cheaper to pay Trump's extortion demands than lose big-ticket clients. If they had leadership with actual spines, they could have fought and won!
Why not just say No thanks. We'll pass. What's he gonna do?
The big money makers who only care about making money (easier to score big on one metric when it’s the only metric you focus on) would exit the firm and take their book of business to another firm. And so saying no has consequences. The consequences of saying yes are worse, of course, if you value living in a country with rule of law.
Trump is a classic Goliath. David understood the power of God / good, the power of right thinking. Remember where he aimed his one stone (although he had 4 others ready)? He aimed at Goliath's brain, where his thought was unprepared for the power that was behind David's aim. He fell to his death with one blow from a slingshot of all things. America is founded on high ideals, right thinking, principles with good motives. Honesty and integrity, even with a little fear, still have infinite power. And there's no reason to walk away from those values and principles as if they're meaningless if a big dumb lug comes along and thinks he holds all the power. He's wrong, people. He's nothing. So don't just hand it over to him. THINK!
Reminds me of what Michelle Obama once said in reference to political power, that it doesn’t define who you are, it reveals who you are. Guess that applies to accumulating great wealth as well.
Thank you Harry that was so in-depth that I don't know where to begin other than just say I'm so glad you are on our side of History. All of these people that are doing standing up for their beliefs and moral values no matter how hard to fight no matter the cost they are the true heroes here. As are you ⚖️💙💖
If these law firms are so big and powerful, why don't any of the know that extortion is a felony? If they can go after or defend the Mafia and high crimes companies, why not face off with King Shittinpants?
These rich firms didn’t get that way by fealty to justice. Trump is just exposing a rot that was barely under the veneer.
You are awesome, Mr. Litman. I am an attorney, but you explain what’s happening in the legal world in a clear and never condescending way so that everyone can learn from you. I love your articles.