Statement from SBM Leadership on Unprecedented Threats to Rule of Law

As officers of the State Bar of Michigan, we are committed to promoting the administration of justice and upholding the rule of law—core principles that are essential to the proper functioning of our democracy comprised of three co-equal branches of government.

The rule of law ensures that our legal system in the judicial branch of government operates with fairness, stability, and predictability, affording all individuals equal access to justice under established legal principles.

A strong and independent judiciary is fundamental to this framework, as it safeguards constitutional rights, resolves disputes impartially, and applies the law free from external influence. Judges must be able to decide cases based on the law and facts, rather than outside pressures. Efforts to undermine judicial independence—whether through threats to judicial security, calls for removal based on case outcomes, or actions that erode the public’s trust in the courts—pose risks to the proper functioning of our justice system.

Equally fundamental to the rule of law and the proper administration of justice is the ability of lawyers to advocate for clients, even when those clients and their causes may be difficult or controversial. Our democracy depends on lawyers being able to provide representation to others as a means of ensuring that legal rights are properly asserted and that courts are presented with full and fair arguments.

We affirm the State Bar of Michigan’s commitment to supporting the fair and impartial administration of justice in the proper functioning of the courts. We encourage respect for the judicial process and the roles of judges and lawyers in our legal system. We invite members of the bar and the public to visit the State Bar of Michigan’s webpage for further information on the importance of the rule of law in our democracy.

In accordance with our mission and responsibilities at the State Bar of Michigan, we will continue to provide resources, education, and advocacy that support an independent judiciary, the legal profession, and the rule of law, in furtherance of the administration of justice and the proper functioning of our courts now and in the future.

This statement is made by the duly elected officers of the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners, not on behalf of all individual SBM members. It does not necessarily reflect the views of officers’ employers.

Posted: March 21, 2025