Upholding the rule of law — In word and deed | MCBA Chair’s Message

On April 23, the Monroe County Bar Association will proudly gather to celebrate Law Day 2025.  It will be a time to reflect on the enduring promise of our Constitution and the rule of law. We will also enjoy the opportunity to recognize individuals whose dedication and integrity embody the highest ideals of our profession.

This year, however, our celebration carries added weight. In a time when foundational principles are increasingly tested, it is more important than ever for our legal community to affirm — not just in word, but in deed — our unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

The MCBA has taken several meaningful steps in recent weeks to demonstrate that commitment:

Standing up for constitutional principles

Just last week, we joined bar associations across the nation in signing an amicus curiae brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The brief supports Perkins Coie LLP in its motion for summary judgment challenging Executive Order No. 14320 — actions that have been widely viewed as attacks on law firms, the Constitution, and the rule of law itself.

We also joined in briefs supporting the efforts of Wilmer Hale and Jenner Block in continued support of an independent Bar.  Their opposition to the executive branch’s attempts to co-opt the integrity of their law firms, their chosen clientele and their opposition to the executive’s positions by punishing them publicly, and financially is reprehensible.  Specifically, attacking Jenner & Block for their employment of a former member of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team is but one of the litany of inexcusable uses of Executive Orders. The continued assault on the firm’s independence in how it charges, or does not, its clientele and how the firm and its clients espouse positions seemingly inconsequential to the administration and its necessary work remains a mystery to us all.

We stand in unqualified support of the Bar and all firms standing in solidarity with their clients and their respective missions.

Reaffirming our core values with the ABA

We also joined more than 50 bar associations in endorsing a statement from the American Bar Association reaffirming our shared dedication to the rule of law — a cornerstone not just of our profession, but of a functioning democracy. That statement serves as both a reminder and a rallying cry to protect the legal framework that underpins our society.

Defending judicial independence

In partnership with the New York City Bar Association, we signed on to a national statement in support of an independent judiciary and legal profession. These are not just institutional ideals — they are necessary safeguards for justice, fairness, and public trust in the legal system.

Taken together, these actions reflect the MCBA’s enduring commitment to uphold the Constitution, defend judicial independence, and advocate for the fair and impartial administration of justice.

As we prepare to celebrate Law Day, let us remember: words matter — and so do actions. Our duty as legal professionals goes beyond the courtroom and extends into the civic fabric of our community. At no time, but especially in times like these, is silence an option.

We will continue to speak out. We will continue to act. And we will continue to lead — in defense of the rule of law.

Sareer Fazili is President & Chairman of the Monroe County Bar Association