News / FJP Releases

March 24, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — On Friday, March 22, President Trump issued a Presidential Memoranda directing Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to sanction lawyers and law firms that pursue cases antithetical to the Administration’s political interests. In the memoranda, President Trump called out democratic lawyers and law firms by name, and directed federal authorities to punish any lawyer or law firm that engages in anything he deems “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation against the United States.” The President also promised to sanction any attorneys who challenge any policies set by the federal departments or agencies now under his control.

President Trump also opened the door to additional criminal penalties outside of sanctions by directing Attorney General Bondi to take “all appropriate action to refer for disciplinary action” against any attorney willing to challenge “cases that implicate national security, homeland security, public safety, or election integrity.” President Trump has recently used national security powers to detain and deport political dissidents without charge, including Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained without criminal charges over his advocacy for Palestinian human rights. President Trump has also arrested and initiated deportation proceedings against internationally renowned immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra on similar charges. The administration is currently ignoring a federal court order blocking the deportation of Mr. Khalil.

Fair and Just Prosecution Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration Presidential Memorandum to DOJ:

“President Trump is weaponizing the legal system against the very people and institutions charged with upholding our system of governance and fair play. This is a deliberate political attack and attempt to undermine our democracy and way of life by leaving people who need legal recourse and protection nowhere to turn. The nation and the legal profession should reject this action for what it is – the manipulations of a dictator.

“Make no mistake, President Trump’s latest action is nothing short of an attack on the rule of law itself. By directing Attorney General Bondi and the U.S. Department of Justice to crack down on the legal profession, President Trump has declared himself above the law and announced that any challenge of his administration’s policies is potentially an illegal act. This is coming from a President that has already named himself the nation’s ‘chief law enforcement officer,’ openly extorted one of our nation’s largest law firms into doing pro bono legal work on behalf of his political causes, and invoked national security powers to deport and detain political dissidents. President Trump is also refusing to abide by multiple court orders, and he is now openly promising to wield the criminal legal system against anyone that seeks to uphold the Constitution and the law.

“Fair and Just Prosecution works to promote a criminal legal system dedicated to fairness and compassion informed by the rule of law and our democratic institutions. We remain committed to that mission and call upon others in the legal profession to stand up for the Constitution and the rule of law in these United States.”