International Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2026 — U.S. Focus Country

In 2026 the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer chose the United States as its focus country. In the week leading up to the Day on January 24, 2026, the City Bar released a series of videos featuring legal leaders of various distinctions sharing a perspective on the imminent threats faced by American lawyers and calling the legal profession to action.

Susan Kohlmann — Chair, City Bar Rule of Law Task Force

Susan Kohlmann, in her capacity as Chair of the City Bar Rule of Law Task Force, announces the series, the stakes, and calls the legal community to action defending legal independence in the United States.

Meg Satterthwaite — UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Meg Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, confirms that she and other human rights experts see trends of persecution of lawyers happening in the United States. Her message is simple: it’s happening here, and it’s happening now.

Vince Warren — Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights

Vince Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, shares a perspective from the front lines where he and his colleagues have had to increase their physical protection just to continue doing their constitutional duty.

Alan Raul and Steve Shapiro — President, Society for the Rule of Law & fmr. National Legal Director, ACLU

Alan Raul is President of the Society for the Rule of Law, a group of conservative lawyers and jurists. Steve Shapiro served as national legal director for the ACLU, a leading liberal institution. The differing political perspectives that these two represent do not divide them when it comes to evaluating the dangers that the legal profession faces today.

The Rule of Law is an American ideal that runs deeper than party or politics. The left and the right should find common ground here.

Michael Posner and Stuart Gerson — Assistant Secretary of State under President Barrack Obama & Acting Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush

Michael Posner served as Assistant Secretary of State under President Barrack Obama. Stuart Gerson served as Acting Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush. Even though they served in administrations from opposite ends of the political party spectrum, they agree that the actions of this current administration place American lawyers under threat. Not only that, but they agree that the ideal of the Rule of Law – the bedrock of our system of governance – is at stake.

Louis Degos — President, Paris Bar Association

It’s every lawyer’s responsibility to protect the ideal of the Rule of Law, which is why we highlighted this message from Louis Degos, President of the Paris Bar Association, in a joint op-ed with the Paris Bar, and in a statement signed by over 50 legal organizations around the world.

Muhammad Faridi — President, New York City Bar Association

President Faridi concluded the video series with a message for the entire legal community: educate your community, defend the unpopular clients, speak up and speak out. There’s no time to lose.