As Threats Against the Legal System Mount, New Generation of Lawyers Mobilizes

National Forum "Speak Up for Justice" Returns May 29 with High-Profile Voices and a Mission to Protect Judicial Independence

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era when federal judges are receiving death threats, major law firms are being targeted for representing controversial clients, and public officials are openly calling to impeach judges whose rulings they disagree with and defund the courts, a growing coalition of lawyers and legal scholars is rising up to defend the rule of law. And it's being led by the next generation.

On Thursday, May 29, the Speak Up for Justice movement will host its second national forum, bringing together prominent voices from the bench, bar, and beyond to address the urgent threats facing the U.S. legal system. The forum follows the success of the inaugural April 15 event, which drew thousands of participants nationwide and featured powerful testimony from top legal minds, including Dean Erwin Chemerinski, Judge Esther Salas, and 9/11 Fund Special Master Ken Feinberg.

This next event will hone in on judicial independence and lawyer autonomy — cornerstones of the American legal system that are increasingly under attack.

Featured panelists include:

• Ashley Akers, Past President, Young Lawyers Federal Bar Association
• Rachel Cohen, a Harvard Law graduate and former Big Law associate who made national headlines after resigning in protest of her firm's deal with the Trump administration
• Jeff Jackson, Attorney General of North Carolina
• Judge Margaret McKeown, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, nationally recognized expert on judicial ethics
• Will Rollins, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney

"Now is the time to speak up for justice," said Paul R. Kiesel, a nationally known trial attorney and founder of the Speak Up for Justice initiative. "This isn't just another panel. It's a call to action — and young lawyers need to lead the way."

Rachel Cohen: A New Face of Legal Dissent

At the heart of this growing movement is Rachel Cohen, a millennial attorney who left behind a prestigious position at one of the world's largest law firms — Skadden — after the firm entered into a $100 million pro bono agreement with the Trump administration.

Her resignation ignited national conversation about the dangers of political pressure on the legal profession.

"I've never done something that was so universally well received in my entire life as publicly quitting," Cohen said. "The Trump administration is coming for corporate law firms, punishing them explicitly and then stripping them of government contracts… We have a legal system that requires lawyers bring cases for them to be heard in front of a judge… He's trying to intimidate lawyers out of bringing the cases in the first place."

Cohen's act of protest and her willingness to speak out have made her a powerful voice for younger attorneys who are alarmed by the growing politicization of the courts. She will testify before members of the House Judiciary Committee and join the May 29 forum to share her experience and encourage others in the legal community to speak up.

A Movement — Not a Moment

What began as a one-time event has quickly become a nationwide movement, gaining traction particularly among millennial and Gen Z attorneys and law students who view this as their generation's call to defend democracy. The Speak Up for Justice campaign has struck a chord in a profession that has traditionally been slow to engage in public protest.

"We're not just protecting legal careers — we're protecting the very architecture of justice in this country," said Kiesel. "And the next generation is not going to be silent."

The May 29 forum will be held virtually and is free to attend. Journalists are encouraged to request media credentials for live coverage or to schedule interviews with any of the panelists, including Rachel Cohen and event organizer Paul R. Kiesel.

Event details and registration: https://SpeakUpForJustice.law

Media Contact:

Jennifer Reed, On The Marc Media | (508) 944-4884 | [email protected]
Marc Silverstein, On The Marc Media | (202) 716-9123 | [email protected]

SOURCE Kiesel Law