in World News Trump Cracks Down On ‘Grossly Unethical’ Lawfare Obstructing His Second Term Agenda
Beth Brelje Visit on Twitter @BethBrelje
No more will lawyers and law firms be able to impede Trump’s every move with court actions, without risking consequences.
After enduring years of bogus litigation, President Donald Trump has picked up his big stick, executive authority, in response to unethical lawyers and law firms that have wasted time and money in efforts to stymie his first term, his campaign, and now the implementation of this term’s agenda.
No more will lawyers and law firms be able to impede Trump’s every move with court actions, without risking consequences.
In an executive order issued late Friday that names one likely target, attorney Marc Elias, Trump calls on his administration to implement five policies to hold lawyers and law firms accountable for misconduct in federal cases or matters before executive departments and agencies of the United States. In simple terms, Trump has ordered the following:
- Sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation.
- Prioritize enforcement of regulations governing attorney conduct and discipline.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi must refer for disciplinary action any attorney whose conduct appears to violate professional conduct rules, particularly in cases that implicate national security, homeland security, public safety, or election integrity. Law firms should note, Bondi is instructed to consider the ethical duties law partners have when supervising junior attorneys. Firms won’t be able to blame junior attorneys for ethical misconduct while the partners remain unscathed.
- When the attorney general determines conduct by an attorney or law firm warrants seeking sanctions or other disciplinary action, she must recommend to the president additional steps that may be taken.
- Attorneys and law firms in litigation against the federal government will be subject to a review of their conduct and filings over the last eight years. If the attorney general identifies misconduct that warrants additional action, like filing frivolous litigation or engaging in fraudulent practices, she is directed to recommend to the president additional steps that may be taken.