The Valley Bar Caucus, on behalf of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, condemns the actions of the President of the United States in revoking the security clearances from the attorneys working at Covington & Burling based purely on their status as the retained attorneys for former Special Counsel Jack Smith. This type of retaliatory action against the retained representatives of a political opponent is an attack against all attorneys in our nation, and on our legal system.
Attorneys are called upon every day to represent the interests of members of the public without special regard to the political views of their clients. Our work as attorneys rests on our ability to represent every member of the public without facing retaliation from the government for purely political reasons.
Neither the President of the United States, nor any other government official, should be able to use the power derived from their Office to discourage, retaliate, or otherwise attack attorneys for performing their work as advocates. Retaliation by the government should never be a factor for any attorney choosing to represent or retain a relationship with a client. Such retaliation calls into question the very ability for attorneys to provide representation in immigration services, provide counsel to criminal defendants, or to even represent businesses if those businesses undertake actions seen as politically disfavored by a government official.
We call upon our members and fellow Bar Associations to join us in denouncing this action, and in supporting the ability of attorneys nationwide to represent clients without fear of retaliation from the government. Furthermore, we call on our elected representatives to take action to safeguard the practice of law both in our state and nationally by passing legislation prohibiting this type of retaliation.
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