Threats to the Rule of Law: Partisan Attacks on the Legal Profession
1.0 Ethics Credits
The Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania convened a timely symposium on April 11, 2025, at the Union League of Philadelphia, addressing urgent threats to the rule of law and national security in an increasingly volatile political and technological landscape. The public event brought together leading members of CERL’s Affiliated Faculty, Executive Board, and Advisory Council to examine how democratic governance is being reshaped by partisan attacks, foreign interference, and the rapid advancement of technology.
Set against a backdrop of growing hostility toward the judiciary, domestic military deployments, the integration of advanced AI into defense systems, and malign influence campaigns, the discussions focused on how core legal norms are being tested and, in some cases, undermined. As CERL Faculty Director Claire Finkelstein observed, the rule of law in the United States is facing unprecedented strain. This symposium provided a forum for leading experts in national security, military ethics, and democratic institutions to outline a nonpartisan path forward for safeguarding the rule of law during a time of profound uncertainty.
Threats to the Rule of Law: Partisan Attacks on the Legal Profession
Moderated by Penn Carey Law Professor Mitchell Berman, the panel featured CERL Executive Board members Gary Deutsch, managing chief counsel at a national bank; Stuart Gerson, former acting U.S. Attorney General; and Mark Zaid, a Washington, D.C.-based national security attorney. Together, they explored the growing politicization of legal roles and institutions and the ethical dilemmas that follow.
The panelists examined how public officials have increasingly pressured lawyers to demonstrate loyalty to political leaders rather than to the Constitution or the public they serve. This shift, they warned, threatens core principles of legal ethics, erodes institutional independence, and undermines democratic accountability.
Speakers:
- Gary Deutsch
- Mark Zaid, Esq.
- Stuart Gerson, Esq.
Moderator: Mitchell Berman
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Threats to the Rule of Law: Partisan Attacks on the Legal Profession
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