ACDL-NJ Statement on Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law 

March 17, 2025 – The Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (ACDL-NJ) stands unequivocally in defense of judicial independence and the rule of law. As criminal defense attorneys, we are often among the most vociferous and unflinching critics of judicial decisions, because those rulings impact the liberty of our clients. Our profession exists to argue in good faith against precedent and test the limits of judicial reasoning. We do not hesitate to call out decisions we believe to be legally unsound, factually baseless, or unjust.

Such good-faith advocacy and criticism strengthens the rule of law and our system of justice. But threats, intimidation, and retaliatory measures—such as calling for the impeachment of judges solely because of their rulings—are unacceptable attacks on that system of justice. They weaken the integrity of the courts and erode the public’s trust in a fair and impartial judiciary.

The role of a judge is not to bow to political pressure or public outrage, but to faithfully apply the law—even when it results in outcomes that are unpopular or inconvenient to those in power.  But at this moment in history, we find ourselves confronting an alarming reality: judges who make difficult but legally supported decisions face not just criticism, but threats to their safety and their careers. At the same time, lawyers and law firms are being targeted merely for fulfilling their professional duty to provide clients with the right to counsel afforded by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. These threats are not abstract. They are real. They are rising. And they undermine a core principle of our democracy—that no person, regardless of wealth or power, is above the law.

As criminal defense lawyers, we will continue to fight for our clients with all the force the Constitution allows. We will continue to critique judicial decisions we believe to be wrong, unfair, or harmful to the rights of the accused. But we will not tolerate threats against judges or lawyers. We will not stand silent while elected officials attempt to bully the judiciary and our professional colleagues into submission. And we will not allow the rule of law to become collateral damage in the pursuit of political retribution.  The ACDL-NJ was established more than 40 years ago to defend against just such conduct: government officials abusing their power to punish attorneys as a way to exact retribution against the attorneys' clients, and to obstruct the attorneys from doing their jobs.

The fair administration of justice depends on the strength and independence of our courts, and the ability of zealous advocates to provide counsel free of political retribution. Those who seek to dismantle that independence do so at great peril—to themselves, to their fellow citizens, and to the nation as a whole.

The ACDL-NJ calls on all attorneys, lawmakers, and citizens to reject efforts to intimidate the judiciary and the legal profession, and to stand firm in defense of the constitutional principles that safeguard our democracy.