We are living through unprecedented times. The rule of law is under threat to a degree that many of us — lawyers and non-lawyers — never anticipated we would see.
Fighting back against the forces of illiberalism requires a broad-based community of Americans of good will who remain committed to our founding values and institutions.
If you are one of them, we encourage you to sign the Rule of Law Pledge today:
The Rule of Law Pledge
Whereas America is a nation of laws, not of men, and whereas the Constitution of the United States and the Rule of Law provide for and guarantee that “We the People” possess and shall exercise the powers of self-government through the free and fair elections of our representatives and that our Government shall uphold the ideals of equality under the law and equal justice for all.
- I hereby pledge, as a citizen of the United States of America, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Rule of Law.
- I pledge to support and defend the constitutional separation of powers in which the Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary each serves as a check and balance on the other two Branches of Government.
- I pledge to support, protect, and defend the independence of the Supreme Court and the Federal Judiciary as the guardians and protectors of the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
I pledge to oppose any and all efforts by false accusation or otherwise to undermine respect for the Federal Courts and the individual Justices and Judges who serve on the Courts of the United States. - I pledge to accept, respect, and abide by the decisions and judgments of the Federal Courts interpreting the Constitution and Laws of the United States.
- I pledge to respect, support, and defend the constitutional rights of all Americans.
- I pledge to support and defend the fundamental American principle that no person is above, beneath, or beyond the law.
- I pledge to respect the Rule of Law by honoring the truth and speaking against untruths that undermine respect for the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the Courts of the United States.
- I pledge to hold government officials, political leaders, candidates for high office, and leaders of the political parties responsible and accountable for the preservation, protection, and defense of the Constitution and the Rule of Law and for adherence to the constitutional principles of America’s great experiment in democracy and constitutional self-government.
- I pledge to affirm and reaffirm that the duty and responsibility of Government and governmental officials is to the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and to the American People and that it is the duty and responsibility of all public officials to serve all citizens, irrespective of their political party or other affiliation, association, or identity.
- I pledge to accept, honor, and respect the results of elections by the American People.
- I pledge to respect, support, and insist upon the peaceful transfer of power upon which our constitutional Republic is premised and depends.
- I pledge to respect, support, and defend the right of aggrieved candidates to invoke the judicial process to challenge the results of elections and the corresponding obligation of such candidates to respect the resulting decisions of the Courts of Law.
- I pledge to honor America by preserving, protecting, and defending the Constitution of the United States, the Rule of Law, and America’s Democracy.