George Conway, a lawyer married to President Trump’s counselor, Kellyanne Conway, has organized a group of fellow conservative lawyers and Federalist society members who believe they need to do more to stand up for the rule of law. They call themselves "Checks and Balances."
The new group also includes Tom Ridge, a former governor of Pennsylvania and secretary of homeland security in the Bush administration; Peter D. Keisler, a former acting attorney general in the Bush administration; two prominent conservative law professors, Jonathan H. Adler and Orin S. Kerr; and Lori S. Meyer, a lawyer who is married to Eugene B. Meyer, the president of the Federalist Society.
“We believe in the rule of law, the power of truth, the independence of the criminal justice system, the imperative of individual rights and the necessity of civil discourse,” the group said in a statement. “We believe these principles apply regardless of the party or persons in power.”
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“There’s a perception out there that conservative lawyers have essentially sold their souls for judges and regulatory reform,” Mr. Conway said. “We just want to be a voice speaking out, and to encourage others to speak out.”
The Federalist Society's annual convention starts Thursday.
“This is not a separate organization,” Professor Adler said. “This is not a rump group. This is not a disavowal.”
But the timing of the announcement of the group’s formation, just before the Federalist Society convention, was not a coincidence, Professor Adler added. “This convention has become the most important meeting place for conservative and libertarian lawyers with an interest in politics,” he said. “You go fishing where the fish are.”
Members of "Checks and Balances" acknowledge conservative lawyers have been unwilling to speak up when they disagree with the president for fear of retribution and are hoping this group creates a new feeling of strength in numbers.
“This administration, in nominations, is not interested in people who have been critical of it,” Professor Adler said. “There is a belief that there is an element of vindictiveness in the administration that casts a shadow.”
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“The president has attacked the Justice Department for indictments of Republican congressmen on the stated ground that prosecutions would hurt Republican chances in the midterm elections, and he’s urged that the Justice Department investigate his political opponents,” Mr. Keisler said. “That’s a fundamentally wrong and very dangerous view of the criminal justice system, and people from both parties and across the political spectrum should condemn it.”
Ms. Meyer said she was worried about the administration’s casual attitude toward the truth.
“My particular concerns,” she said, “are all the disinformation and spin that comes out almost every day. It makes it impossible for any real dialogue to be had.”
Mr. Bellinger said he was worried about Mr. Trump’s attempts to undermine the country’s institutions. “Attacking the press and putting it in danger, attacking the Justice Department and discrediting it,” he said, “are not part of being a conservative lawyer.”
Mr. Ridge said he was concerned about attacks on the independence of judiciary. “Regardless of whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative,” he said, “you embrace the rule of law.”
Conservative Lawyers Say Trump Has Undermined the Rule of Law (NYT)