STATEMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS ACADEMY OF TRIAL ATTORNEYS

Proud to endorse the following statement from my most active bar group, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, about both what it means to be an attorney and that we attorneys disavow the current assault on the rule of law by the federal government –

STATEMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS ACADEMY OF TRIAL ATTORNEYS
The Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys is a voluntary, non-profit, state-wide association of Massachusetts lawyers. Our mission is to preserve the American jury system, protect the health and safety of families, and to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
We echo what others have said: the current onslaught on the rule of law by the government threatens our way of life in this country, and political party has no place in either the defense of the rule of law, of the independence of the judiciary, or of the integrity of our profession. Those aspects of life in the country are critical pieces of the foundation of our democracy, and they are under violent attack – an attack that should not and cannot go unanswered. Like lawyers of all stripes, when licensed to practice law we swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and to discharge the obligations of the profession to the best of our ability. We undertake a solemn duty – not just to our clients, but to the legal system itself. That obligation requires us, irrespective of our political views or party affiliations, to be faithful stewards of the law; it compels us to raise our voices, stay engaged, and speak out in days like this.
History teaches that a steady, reliable rule of law has allowed this country’s corporations to lead the world in industry, technology, and development; for our scientists, scholars, and artists to contribute to the world as richly as they have; and for anyone – particularly those less fortunate – to be able to turn to the courts to vindicate their rights. We owe a special responsibility to stand up against the unprecedented onslaught wrought by the federal government on the legal profession and the American way of life.
We cannot be complicit through silence. It is our job to speak out. We must speak out now before there’s no one left to speak for you.
Marc A. Diller, Esq.
President
April 16, 2025