When
Above
the
Law
usually
talks
about
a
group
of
over
2,000+
lawyers
getting
together
to
show
support,
it
usually
means
that
some
big
name
went
above
and
beyond
for
bonus
season.
This
time,
there’s
more
gravitas
than
money
at
stake.
The
ABA
recently
took
a
stand
denonucing
several
members
of
the
Executive
branch’s
comments
and
actions
that
suggest
they
won’t
be
complying
with
judicial
review
and
the
rule
of
law.
In
that
letter,
they
called
on
lawyers
to
join
in
and
speak
out
on
the
rule
of
law’s
behalf
and
they’re
doing
so
in
droves.
An
open
letter
by
Lawyers
For
Good
Government
speaking
out
against
Executive
abuses
was
signed
by
over
2,100
attorneys.
Their
founder,
Traci
Feit
Love,
urges
the
importance
of
a
timely
response
to
the
attack
on
the
rule
of
law:
“These
actions
are
not
just
policy
disputes
–
they
represent
a
coordinated
attempt
to
undermine
the
rule
of
law
and
rewrite
the
Constitution
by
executive
fiat..As
lawyers,
our
oath
is
not
just
a
formality;
it
is
a
binding
commitment
to
uphold
the
Constitution
on
which
our
entire
system
of
government
is
based.
The
legal
profession
simply
cannot
remain
silent
as
the
executive
branch
attempts
to
bypass
constitutional
checks
and
balances.
Every
lawyer,
no
matter
their
practice
area
or
political
affiliation,
has
a
role
to
play
in
safeguarding
our
democracy.”
When
Elizabeth
Willing
Powel
asked
Benjamin
Franklin
if
our
government
was
a
Republic
or
a
Monarchy,
he
famously
quipped
“A
Republic,
if
you
can
keep
it.”
The
test
is
at
our
doorstep.
If
we
are
to
keep
our
republic,
everyone
—
but
lawyers
in
particular
—
can’t
just
rest
on
a
well-meaning
hope
that
things
won’t
get
much
worse.
Lines
must
be
drawn
and
actions
taken
have
to
ensure
that
the
promise
of
the
rule
of
law
doesn’t
disappear
as
quickly
as
Trump’s
promise
to
lower
grocery
prices
once
he
gets
back
in
office.
If
you
care
about
the
republic
—
and
you
should
—
you
can
read
and
sign
the
open
letter
here.
Chris
Williams
became
a
social
media
manager
and
assistant
editor
for
Above
the
Law
in
June
2021.
Prior
to
joining
the
staff,
he
moonlighted
as
a
minor
Memelord™
in
the
Facebook
group Law
School
Memes
for
Edgy
T14s.
He
endured
Missouri
long
enough
to
graduate
from
Washington
University
in
St.
Louis
School
of
Law.
He
is
a
former
boatbuilder
who
is
learning
to
swim, a
published
author
on
critical
race
theory,
philosophy,
and
humor,
and
has
a
love
for
cycling
that
occasionally
annoys
his
peers.
You
can
reach
him
by
email
at [email protected] and
by
tweet
at @WritesForRent.