JACKSON, Wyo. — On Wednesday, March 26, a group of more than 100 lawyers and retired judges submitted the letter, “The Rule of Law Matters,” to Wyoming’s elected officials, urging them to publicly condemn “recent attacks on the judiciary by the current administration.”
Jackson attorney Catherine DiSanto contacted Buckrail on Friday, April 4, sharing a letter written by members of the Wyoming bar, retired judiciary employees, judges and attorney generals addressed to Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis along with State Representative Harriet Hageman. According to DiSanto, many of Wyoming’s lawyers and retired judges are concerned about the growing number of attacks on the judiciary and the rule of law.
A group of 32 Teton County attorneys have signed on to the letter, including: Christopher Hawks, Jean A. Day, Alexander F. Freeburg, Alicia B. Evans, Bradley E. Adams, Bradley L. Booke, Catherine E. DiSanto, William P. Schwartz, Cheryl R. Schwartz, Claire Fuller, David M. Gosar, Joseph F. Moore, Jr., Emily R. Rankin, G. Bryan Ulmer, III, Jason E. Ochs, John H. Robinson, Lauren B. Browne, Leah C. Schwartz, Leonard R. Carlman, Margaret A. R. Schwartz, Tyson E. Logan, Mel C. Orchard III, Michael F. Lutz, Nicole G. Krieger, Noah W. Drew, Pamela T. Parkins, R. Daniel Fleck, R. Scott Garland, Richard J. Mulligan, Robert P. Schuster, Rolf Engh and Rosslyn B. Read.
The letter cited that several members of the House of Representatives have recently filed articles of impeachment against federal judges, and that these “evidence-free attacks” have promoted threats of violence.
“These attacks are part of a growing effort to discredit, not just judges, but seemingly the American Rule of Law as we know it,” the letter reads. “Recent executive orders targeting prominent national law firms disfavored by the administration with severe retribution —unprecedented executive action immediately deemed unconstitutional on many grounds by a federal court — has, as night follows day, resulted in yet more incendiary social media postings attacking the judiciary and openly encouraging the executive branch to disobey court orders.”
The letter states that the Judicial Branch must rely on the other branches of government to defend its constitutional role.
“As our elected federal representatives — and as required by your own oaths — we thus urge you to publicly condemn these threats, affirm judicial independence and remind Americans that appeals — not violence, intimidation or invitations to lawlessness — are the constitutional remedy for undesired court decisions,” the letter reads.
In late March, Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman announced that she will no longer attend in-person town hall meetings due to threats of violence.
