Muhammad U. Faridi’s Remarks at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the New York City Bar Association

At the New York City Bar Association’s Annual Meeting on May 20, 2025, City Bar President Muhammad U. Faridi gave the following remarks:

One year ago, I stood before you as the incoming President of the New York City Bar Association. I spoke then about my personal journey—about what this Association meant to me when I was a young lawyer looking for community, about the values that brought me here, and about the responsibility I felt in carrying forward this institution’s long legacy of service to the profession and to the rule of law.

I stand here tonight with even more conviction in the power and purpose of this organization.

The past year has been one of extraordinary challenge—and of extraordinary response. Across the country, the rule of law continues to come under pressure. Judges have been threatened for issuing decisions. Lawyers have faced intimidation for representing unpopular causes and clients. And efforts to politicize the judiciary have only grown more brazen. We have seen this before in history, and we know where it leads.

As many of you know, I grew up in Pakistan, a country whose struggles with judicial independence and adherence to the rule of law are well-documented. I have seen firsthand the consequences when judges are pressured to deliver certain outcomes, when lawyers are harassed or intimidated for representing controversial clients, and when politics overtakes justice. When the rule of law breaks down, civil rights erode, economic stability suffers, and public trust collapses. Protecting judicial independence is not simply a theoretical ideal—it is fundamental to the health and survival of any democracy. It is the bedrock upon which all other rights and liberties rest.

Here in the United States, recent events have reminded us that even in this great nation, the rule of law and judicial independence requires vigilant protection. Judicial independence is not self-sustaining—it must be defended actively, persistently, and fearlessly.

I’m proud to report that the New York City Bar Association has not been silent.

We have stood firm.

We filed amicus briefs in cases where the integrity of the legal process was at stake. We issued public statements when lawyers and judges were attacked for doing their jobs. We mobilized the organized bar in defense of judicial independence—because when the legal profession speaks with one voice, it can be a powerful force for good.

That’s why, in addition to speaking out, we have also sought to support those affected by government actions. When federal employees who had devoted their careers to public service were laid off or displaced, we responded. We quickly put together a career support program to assist those lawyers in transition, offering guidance, resources, and professional connections through a dedicated event. That effort reflects the same principle: that lawyers and legal professionals should not be punished for upholding the law or serving the public in good faith.

We also led on reform. This past year, we published a major report calling for robust ethics reform at the Supreme Court of the United States. The public’s confidence in our highest court is not automatic—it must be earned and preserved. Our report set forth concrete recommendations for transparency, accountability, and independence. I had the privilege of personally discussing those reforms with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and with staff from Congressman Jamie Raskin’s office, leaders who are equally committed to upholding the integrity of our judiciary.

Here in New York, we have worked tirelessly to address the crisis in our own court system: a lack of judges. For too many years, the number of justices in our state’s Supreme Court has been capped by an outdated constitutional provision. That cap is choking the ability of our courts to deliver timely justice, especially in high-volume jurisdictions like New York City. Just this evening, I returned from Albany, where I joined legislators, advocates, and fellow lawyers at a rally and press conference urging action. Last year, the Assembly and Senate passed the measure to repeal the cap on Supreme Court justices. That was the first step. We now need the Legislature to pass it again in the 2026 session so that New Yorkers can vote on this critical reform. Let me be clear: this is not a partisan issue. This is a justice issue.

But our efforts must extend beyond immediate battles. We are also looking ahead and preparing our profession for future challenges. We have undertaken significant efforts to demonstrate to junior lawyers—and to the next generation of leaders—why the bar association as an institution remains indispensable. From professional development programs to easier digital engagement, we are making sure that our value proposition is clear, compelling, and responsive to the way people work today.

In addition, we are embracing the future by tackling emerging issues head-on. This past year, we established a Presidential Task Force on Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, bringing together over 150 members from law, academia, business, and government. The work of this task force has been extraordinary—producing timely, practical guidance and organizing events that are setting the standard for how the profession should think about this transformative technology. AI will reshape our field. We can either react to it, or we can help shape the standards and values that govern its use. We have chosen the latter.

None of this work would be possible without the commitment of our members. And I want to thank you all—those who serve on our committees and task forces, those who show up, speak up, and lift others up. I said last year that the City Bar is not just a building on 44th Street—it’s an engine of democracy. And this year has proven just how true that is.

Let me end with this: Over the past 154 years, our bar association has consistently stood up—whether it was against unlawful executive orders, threats to the judiciary, or efforts to undermine civil rights and democratic norms. We are not new to this fight, and we are not going anywhere. In fact, you’ll be seeing us stand up even more.

But we cannot do it alone.

We need each of you. We need your voices, your ideas, your time, your talent. Whether you’re a first-year associate or a senior partner, a legal services attorney or a general counsel—this is your bar association. Our mission is only as strong as our members’ commitment to it.

So let us move forward together. Let us continue to stand up for the rule of law, for equal justice, for the dignity of the legal profession, and for the people who count on us to be their advocates, their counselors, and their defenders.

Thank you for the honor of serving as your President.