Connecticut Bar Warns Lawyers: Criticizing Trump Prosecutions 'Dangerous Rhetoric'
Submitted by MAGA Student
Posted 7 days ago
Breaking news: The Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) has issued a warning to its members regarding criticism of the prosecutions of former President Donald Trump. The message from the bar leadership, signed by President Maggie Castinado, President-Elect James T. Shearin, and Vice President Emily A. Gianquinto, cautions lawyers against making comments that could be viewed as "crossing the line from criticism to dangerous rhetoric."
The statement begins by emphasizing the importance of words, stating that "reckless words attacking the integrity of our judicial system matter even more." However, it leaves the ramifications for bar members unclear, simply noting that some comments will be viewed as crossing the line.
According to the CBA, it is now considered reckless and unprofessional to make analogies to show trials or to question the integrity of the legal system or the judges in such cases. For example, criticizing Judge Juan Merchan for refusing to recuse himself from the case is considered beyond the pale. Many lawyers believe that his political contributions to President Biden and his daughter’s major role as a Democratic fundraiser and activist should have prompted Merchan to remove himself (and any appearance of a conflict).
The letter assures members that they are free to criticize, but warns that attacking the ethics of a judge or the motivations behind these cases is dangerous and could spark violence. The concern over rage rhetoric runs across the political spectrum, and while rarely criticized in the media, there has been an escalation of reckless rhetoric from the left. For example, Georgetown Law Professor Josh Chafetz declared that "when the mob is right, some (but not all!) more aggressive tactics are justified."
Many view such prosecutions as political and are speaking out in defense of what they believe is the essence of blind justice in America. However, the CBA officials did not write to denounce attacks on figures like Bill Barr, or claims that the Justice Department was rigging justice during the Trump years.
The letter focuses on critics of the Trump prosecutions and not the continued attacks on conservative jurists like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. It has never published warnings about those calling conservative justices profanities, attacking their religion, or labeling them "partisan hacks" or even other "insurrectionist sympathizers." Liberal activists have been calling for stopping conservative jurists "by any means necessary."
In Connecticut, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal has warned conservative justices to rule correctly or face "seismic changes." That did not appear to worry the bar. Likewise, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N. Y., also declared in front of the Supreme Court, "I want to tell you, [Justice Neil] Gorsuch, I want to tell you, [Justice Brett] Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price."
The letter goes further and suggests that lawyers should speak publicly in support of trials like the one in Manhattan, a view that ignores the deep misgivings over the motivations and means used in New York to target an unpopular figure in this city. You have the top CBA officials calling on lawyers to take a public position that is opposed by many lawyers and citizens in defending the integrity of these prosecutions.
Our legal system has nothing to fear from criticism. Indeed, free speech strengthens our system by exposing divisions and encouraging dialogue. It is orthodoxy and speech intolerance that represent the most serious threats to that system.
Sources:
jonathanturley.org
redstate.com
foxnews.com
The statement begins by emphasizing the importance of words, stating that "reckless words attacking the integrity of our judicial system matter even more." However, it leaves the ramifications for bar members unclear, simply noting that some comments will be viewed as crossing the line.
According to the CBA, it is now considered reckless and unprofessional to make analogies to show trials or to question the integrity of the legal system or the judges in such cases. For example, criticizing Judge Juan Merchan for refusing to recuse himself from the case is considered beyond the pale. Many lawyers believe that his political contributions to President Biden and his daughter’s major role as a Democratic fundraiser and activist should have prompted Merchan to remove himself (and any appearance of a conflict).
The letter assures members that they are free to criticize, but warns that attacking the ethics of a judge or the motivations behind these cases is dangerous and could spark violence. The concern over rage rhetoric runs across the political spectrum, and while rarely criticized in the media, there has been an escalation of reckless rhetoric from the left. For example, Georgetown Law Professor Josh Chafetz declared that "when the mob is right, some (but not all!) more aggressive tactics are justified."
Many view such prosecutions as political and are speaking out in defense of what they believe is the essence of blind justice in America. However, the CBA officials did not write to denounce attacks on figures like Bill Barr, or claims that the Justice Department was rigging justice during the Trump years.
The letter focuses on critics of the Trump prosecutions and not the continued attacks on conservative jurists like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. It has never published warnings about those calling conservative justices profanities, attacking their religion, or labeling them "partisan hacks" or even other "insurrectionist sympathizers." Liberal activists have been calling for stopping conservative jurists "by any means necessary."
In Connecticut, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal has warned conservative justices to rule correctly or face "seismic changes." That did not appear to worry the bar. Likewise, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N. Y., also declared in front of the Supreme Court, "I want to tell you, [Justice Neil] Gorsuch, I want to tell you, [Justice Brett] Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price."
The letter goes further and suggests that lawyers should speak publicly in support of trials like the one in Manhattan, a view that ignores the deep misgivings over the motivations and means used in New York to target an unpopular figure in this city. You have the top CBA officials calling on lawyers to take a public position that is opposed by many lawyers and citizens in defending the integrity of these prosecutions.
Our legal system has nothing to fear from criticism. Indeed, free speech strengthens our system by exposing divisions and encouraging dialogue. It is orthodoxy and speech intolerance that represent the most serious threats to that system.
Sources:
jonathanturley.org
redstate.com
foxnews.com
