NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA (June 10, 2024) - The American College of Trial Lawyers, acting through its Judicial Independence and Executive Committees, condemns the unsubstantiated accusations made by some public officials concerning the recent trial and conviction of former President Donald Trump. These include claims that the trial was “rigged,” that the American justice system is “corrupt and rigged,” that the judge was “corrupt,” and “highly unethical,” that the jury was “partisan” and “precooked,” and that the trial was “America’s first communist show trial.” 

Let us be clear that we take no issue with expressing disagreement – even in the strongest terms – with the decision to bring the prosecution, the claimed selective nature of the prosecution, the prosecution’s legal theory, the judge’s rulings, or the verdict itself. But accusations of “corruption” or that the trial was “rigged,” particularly when made by public officials, threaten to undermine the public’s confidence in the integrity of the judicial system and the rule of law. Even more troubling, such statements serve to provoke threats of violence, as evidenced by recent blogs and internet postings seeking to identify the names and addresses of the anonymous jurors and in a few cases urging that the jurors be shot or hanged. We emphasize that this is not a partisan issue. All of us – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – should recognize that respect for the judicial system is essential to our democracy and should condemn unsupported attacks on the integrity of that system.

The College has no ties to any political party or any partisan endeavors. The Mission Statement of the College underscores the critical importance to our democracy of an independent judiciary and respect for the rule of law. We write today to emphasize those principles.

We call upon all lawyers and their professional organizations to rededicate themselves to preserving a fair and impartial court system, and to protecting the independence and safety of our judges. Our obligations as lawyers to our system of justice and to those who serve on the bench demand no less of us.