At yesterday’s January 6 Commission hearings, we witnessed the quiet passion of public officials doing their jobs with integrity while the President of the United States held them up to public ridicule, endangering their lives and the lives of their families. We will have more to say soon about these hearings, but today we ask: Where are the institutional voices of the legal profession? Why are bar associations, law schools, and law firms continuing to stay silent when our Constitutional democracy is threatened?
Our latest blog post addresses recent illegal actions by County Commissioners in Otero County, New Mexico, and the terrifying glimpse into the bleak future of democracy the incident provides, absent intervention by those who care about its protection.
Efforts to undermine voting rights are increasing. Those who maintain the lie about the 2020 election results are running for Secretary of State and other key positions around the country, threatening the right to free and fair elections in the future.
We must treat this dangerous moment like the emergency that it is and act to protect the Constitution, the rule of law, and government decision-making based on facts, not lies.
The legal profession must be galvanized into action.
Please, sign our Democracy Commitment today. In addition, our blog links to an important article by Professor Laurence Tribe and our colleague, Dennis Aftergut, that suggests further steps we all can take to protect democracy. We must act now.
As a reminder, friends of our organization have offered a matching gift up to $10,000 for all donations received by July 1. Please help us achieve that goal.
To make your tax-deductible donation, please follow this link.
With gratitude,
Scott Harshbarger
Co-founder, Lawyers Defending American Democracy
Two-time Attorney General of Massachusetts
Former National President, Common Cause
