New York, NY, Tuesday, March 25 2025 – WBASNY denounces statements by government officials calling for the impeachment of judges or threatening to prosecute them with charges of sedition and treason in response to rulings with which they disagree. Additionally, WBASNY stands against unilateral and politically motivated government actions that directly threaten law firms and the duties of a lawyer to zealously represent clients.
The independence of the Judiciary is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Judiciary must remain independent from the legislative and executive branches. The Judiciary interprets the law and issues rulings on matters of constitutionality. Judicial review protects the rights of citizens and maintains the balance of power between the branches of government. Any actions jeopardizing an independent judiciary or compromising legal representation threaten our democracy and legal system. The Judiciary must remain free from political reprisals and undue influence by the Executive and Legislative branches of government.
Equally troubling are government actions that target law firms. An attorney must represent a client without fear of being punished by government officials. Attorneys take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution and to adhere to the highest ethical standards. WBASNY opposes any efforts to undermine those obligations, including the right to legal representation and the adherence to the rule of law. WBASNY’s unwavering commitment is to promote the fair and equal administration of justice.
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The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) is the professional membership organization of choice for nearly 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State, and the largest statewide women’s bar association in the country. For four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, providing professional networking, continuing legal education programming, leadership training, and advocacy for the rights of women, children, and families. Through involvement with WBASNY’s 20 regional chapters and its 40-plus substantive law committees, WBASNY’s members collaborate with one another on a variety of issues and perform public and community service, in furtherance of its mission to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and women attorneys in particular. WBASNY holds United Nations NGO status with the U.N.’s Department of Public Information, and Special Consultative status in association with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WBASNY is also a founding member of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.