National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York Council of Defense Lawyers Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiff

Key Excerpts

• By threatening attorneys with potential retribution for acting in their clients’ best interest, the Executive Order places criminal defense attorneys in an impossible position, forcing them to choose between zealous advocacy for their clients and self-preservation.
• The Executive Order itself demonstrates that even undertaking to represent any individual or company out of favor with the current President, or viewed as a political enemy of the current administration, will cause the firm to labor under a conflict of interest. For any such client, the firm can only advocate for the client at risk to its own well-being.
• The Executive Order threatens the integrity of our criminal justice system and should be struck down on that basis alone.