Wash U law professors say Trump government imperils the rule of law

Publisher’s note: GJR is sharing an open letter from law school faculty members at Washington University Law School stating that “rule of law is facing grave peril” from the government of President Donald J. Trump

A LETTER FROM WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL FACULTY TO THE LAW SCHOOL COMMUNITY — APRIL 7, 2025

We are faculty members of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.[1] As law professors responsible for educating the next generation of lawyers, we have a special duty to promote the rule of law through our teaching and scholarship. 

We are making this statement—in our individual capacities—because, more than at any other time in our careers, we believe that the rule of law is facing grave peril and many of our students are deeply concerned about the future of the legal profession and the rule of law. These concerns are intertwined, as many recent government actions have targeted the legal profession and institutions of higher education.

Although we disagree with one another about many legal and political issues, our concern for the rule of law and the welfare of our students transcends our differences on other issues. We take seriously the precept that the United States of America is, to paraphrase John Adams, a government of laws, not of people.

The rule of law is imperiled when government leaders:

• threaten judges with impeachment, heighten risks to their physical security, or promote unlawful defiance of their authority, because of disagreement with their decisions; 
• retaliate against lawyers and law firms because of their prior government service or lawful and ethical representation of clients disfavored by the government; 
• threaten legal clinics for their lawful and ethical representation of clients disfavored by the government; 
• require lawyers to engage in public acts of submission and to donate time and funds in support of government-dictated causes as a condition for removal of threats of sanctions; 
• deprive individuals, groups, and institutions of significant liberties without affording them due process; and 
• punish individuals, groups, and institutions for lawfully speaking on matters of public concern.

When the government takes any of these actions, it is an attack on the rule of law, as well as basic individual rights and fundamental American values. As law professors and lawyers who have committed to uphold the Constitution, we have an obligation to speak out against these threats. In that spirit, we condemn actions taken by the government that undermine the rule of law, and we affirm the basic purpose of our work—to advance constitutional principles and strengthen our legal institutions.

[1] The views expressed in this statement are those only of the signatories.  We do not hold this statement out as reflecting the views of Washington University, the Washington University School of Law, or any person who has not signed the statement. This letter is inspired by a statement by colleagues at Harvard Law School. We have incorporated some of their language with their permission.

Susan Frelich Appleton

Lemma Barkeloo & Phoebe Couzins Professor of Law

Kathleen Clark

Professor of Law

Kevin Collins

Edward T. Foote II Professor of Law

Marion Crain

Wiley B. Rutledge Professor of Law

Adrienne D. Davis

William M. Van Cleve Professor of Law

Rebecca Dresser

Daniel Noyes Kirby Professor of Law Emerita

John N. Drobak

George A. Madill Professor of Law

Sheldon A. Evans

Professor of Law

Denise Field

Professor of Practice Emerita

Trevor Gardner

Professor of Law

Michael M. Greenfield

George A. Madill Professor of Contracts and Commercial Law Emeritus

Rebecca Hollander-Blumoff

Professor of Law

Lisa S. Hoppenjans

Associate Professor of Practice

Elizabeth J. Hubertz

Professor of Practice

John Inazu

Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion

Andrea Scoseria Katz

Associate Professor of Law

Pauline Kim

Daniel Noyes Kirby Professor of Law

David Konig

Emeritus Professor of Law and History

Robert R. Kuehn

Professor of Law

D. Bruce LaPierre

Professor of Law Emeritus

Stephen H. Legomsky

John S. Lehmann University Professor Emeritus

Ronald Levin

William R. Orthwein Distinguished Professor of Law

Jo Ellen Dardick Lewis

Professor of Practice

Gregory P. Magarian

Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law

Daniel R. Mandelker

Howard A. Stamper Professor of Law Emeritus

Charles McManis

Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law Emeritus

Katie Herbert Meyer

Professor of Practice

Kimberly Norwood

Henry H. Oberschelp Professor of Law

Adam H. Rosenzweig

Professor of Law

Rachel Sachs

Professor of Law

Leila Nadya Sadat

James Carr Professor of International Criminal Law

Joel Seligman

Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus

Ann Davis Shields

Professor of Practice

Cormac Smith

Assistant Professor of Practice

Jonathan Smith

Professor of Practice

Peggie R. Smith

Charles F. Nagel Professor of Employment and Labor Law

Karen Tokarz

Charles Nagel Professor of Public Interest Law & Policy

Melissa A. Waters

Professor of Law

Peter Wiedenbeck

Joseph H. Zumbalen Professor of the Law of Property