• One more reason why we need Law Day. These judges ruled against Trump. Then their families came under attack.
• A ray of hope. Abbe Lowell launches his own firm to assist those unlawfully and inappropriately targeted.
• What about States’ Rights? Trump administration sues four Democratic-led states to block climate laws, lawsuits.
• Climate change ain’t cheap. Managing the climate change-fueled insurance crisis. This is a virtual event sponsored by the Center for American Progress and including opening remarks from U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Use the link to register. Let us know what you learn.
• Legislatures are winding down. Kudos to Third Act Minnesota for keeping an eye on things. Here’s an announcement for an upcoming zoom call on Tuesday, May 6: “As the state legislative session comes down to its last few weeks, Republicans and a few Democrats are trying to amend the Clean Energy law to include non-carbon free energy sources such as burning wood, and other biofuel and provide tax breaks to data centers. There’s still time to stop these bills that would take us backward from 100% clean energy. We will review some new legislative alert tools offered by Third Act Central that we could adopt, evaluate the effectiveness of our first legislative outreach efforts, and discuss outreach after the session ends.” Get in touch with your local Third Act Working Group and see what you can do.
• And speaking of protests. Who has read Sarah Schulman’s “The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity?” It is recently released and gets this description in the Chicago Review of Books: “Schulman’s book is the perfect guide for those seeking to fight injustice and, yes, build solidarity. But the issue of solidarity is more complex than just people joining forces—an ideal that perhaps veers into the realm of fantasy. Schulman attests that we must recognize the fantasy of solidarity, which includes thinking our interventions are always effective, happen without cost, and come with gratitude or recognition. But she also wrestles with the necessity of working towards solidarity in activist movements and spaces, without which we may never see true progressive change and liberation. The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity is an essential book for our present moment.” 

Working Groups:

On very short notice, we met up in front of the nearby historic courthouse — a readymade backdrop to send a message supporting free speech, due process and rule of law. We grabbed markers, storyboarded about a range of issues, and hammed up a flamboyantly mock attack on each person who spoke out. Then we messaged about what had happened to our trussed-up prisoners, deprived of their constitutional rights.

We cut the images together into short videos, and appended encouragement for other DIY actions, info on contacting Congress, and a plug for Law Day of Action on May 1st.

Finally, we posted on Instagram and uploaded as YouTube shorts. Within hours of posting, we had thousands of views! We also shared the YouTube links in our personal networks, in comment sections of pro-democracy Substacks, etc.

A greencard holder at the grocery store today thanked me for posting, saying she feels she cannot speak out. What actions can we take as Third Actors to exercise our various privileges and abilities? “No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.” (Edward R. Murrow)

Here are our DIY-for-due process videos:

Please join attorneys, law students, and judges nationwide on Thursday, May 1 for a powerful demonstration supporting the independence of our courts and the legal profession — cornerstones of American democracy. Events are planned in over 45 cities across the country. We need your voice!

Use the QR code below or go to lawdayofaction.org

Columbia Law School Sabin Center for Climate Change. Developing legal techniques to address climate change and training the next generation of lawyers who will lead the field.

Earth Law Center. Advancing ecocentric laws, policies, and governance for the well-being of the Earth community. See here for our April 8 webinar interviewing Grant Wilson, Earth Law’s Executive Director. Use passcode &X1zyY5J to sign in.

Our Children’s Trust. Key players in the nothing short of spectacular victory for youth in Held v. Montana, Our Children’s Trust is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides strategic, campaign-based legal services to youth from diverse backgrounds to secure their legal rights to a safe climate.

350.org. Co-founded by our very own Bill McKibben, 350 has become a global organization of ordinary people working to build a world powered by clean, accessible and affordable renewable energy.

National Resources Defense Council. NRDC works to safeguard the earth — its people, its planets and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.

Earthjustice. Wielding the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. Because the earth needs a good lawyer.

More suggestions? Got a story to tell about your work with one of these groups? Let us know. lawyers@thirdact.org

Many of us have been eager to do something concrete in support of the rule of law. We all have a chance to participate in (or help organize) a Stand for the Rule of Law event on May 1 at noon (local time). See our Events tab and the and the Lawyers for Good Government website for more details. Send us a note. Let us know what you are planning to do. lawyers@thirdact.org

The Brennan Center for Justice. Working to build an America that is democratic, just, and free — for all.

Lawyers Defending American Democracy. Who knew that this could be a novel idea among some groups of lawyers. Take a look at this group’s important work. Sign up for their newsletter. Get involved.

Democracy Docket. The leading digital news platform dedicated to information, analysis and opinion about voting rights and elections in the courts.

Democracy Forward. We go to court for people and democracy. Defend, Disrupt, Build.

Society for the Rule of Law. Protecting the Constitution and the rule of law against rising threats posed by illiberal forces in society, without regard to political party or partisan affiliation.

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Nonpartisan and nonprofit. Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to mobilize the nation’s leading lawyers as agents for change in the Civil Rights Movement.

More suggestions? Got a story to tell about your work with one of these groups? Let us know. lawyers@thirdact.org

Just Security: Based at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU’s School of Law, this site tracks over 150 cases challenging Trump administration actions including timely updates and summaries, as well as links to pleadings and other documents.

Trump Litigation Bot: Real-time updates on the latest filings in cases challenging Trump administration executive actions. Sponsored by @lawfare.bsky.social

NYT’s Litigation Tracker: The New York Times’ tracker includes links to dockets and commentary on select cases.