Most Americans will never file a bar complaint, argue an amicus brief, or stand before a federal judge. That does not mean the daily defense of the rule of law happens somewhere above your pay grade. It happens in state bar disciplinary offices, federal district courts, local rulemaking dockets, city council chambers, and in the ordinary decisions professionals make every day about whether to speak up or stay quiet.
Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD) exists to ensure that lawyers speak up. Founded in 2019, LDAD operates as a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition of volunteer lawyers, retired judges, and legal scholars dedicated to holding public officials and attorneys accountable to constitutional norms. Like structural framing in a major building, the rule of law is foundational infrastructure. You rarely notice it when it holds, but when it fails, the entire structure is compromised.
What Is Lawyers Defending American Democracy?
LDAD was born out of an urgent recognition that the institutional guardrails of American democracy required active defense from within the legal profession. In October 2018, Scott Harshbarger: a former Massachusetts Attorney General and past national president of Common Cause: published a blunt essay arguing that the leaders of the legal profession were sitting on their hands while democratic norms eroded. Partnering with public interest lawyer Gershon "Gary" Ratner, Harshbarger helped establish LDAD as a nimble, bottom-up organization operating outside the cautious institutional constraints of traditional bar associations and major corporate law firms.
Led by Executive Director Stiller Rikleen, LDAD runs on a lean budget with a small administrative staff, relying heavily on volunteer labor from retired judges, former attorneys general, law professors, and practicing attorneys across the country.
The organization structures its advocacy around eight foundational pillars that define its mission:
- The rule of law and equal justice under the law
- Institutional checks and balances across government branches
- The separation of powers
- The independence, integrity, and vital role of a free media
- The independence, integrity, competence, and non-partisanship of the judiciary
- Truthfulness and integrity among public officials
- The independence and non-partisanship of federal criminal justice and intelligence agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI
- Civil discourse and fair treatment, including respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals
These eight pillars serve as a consistent standard against which government actions, legal filings, and public official conduct are measured.
A Track Record of Concrete Accountability
Advocacy groups frequently issue statements, but LDAD focuses on tangible legal outcomes and institutional accountability. Over the past several years, the coalition has built a documented track record of interventions that shifted legal outcomes and reinforced professional standards.
In professional discipline, LDAD’s petitions have driven significant results. In January 2021, LDAD filed a comprehensive ethics complaint against Rudolph Giuliani with the New York bar, co-signed by 7,500 individuals; his law license was suspended that June. Similarly, in October 2022, LDAD filed an ethics complaint against Kenneth Chesebro, culminating in his disbarment in New York in June 2025, with the court panel noting that his actions struck directly at the heart of the administration of justice. LDAD also filed an extensive complaint regarding Jeffrey Clark’s post-election pressure on Department of Justice leadership, leading the D.C. Board of Professional Responsibility to recommend disbarment.
Beyond individual disciplinary actions, LDAD has submitted influential amicus briefs in high-stakes constitutional litigation. In LULAC v. Executive Office of the President, LDAD challenged executive attempts to require documentary proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms, helping secure a permanent injunction protecting voter access. LDAD has also intervened to defend institutional independence, challenge unlawful deployments, and support congressional oversight, demonstrating that organized legal advocacy can successfully check executive overreach.
The Scope of the Challenge
An honest assessment of democratic defense must acknowledge setbacks alongside victories. Accountability through professional licensing boards is inherently deliberate, and institutional resistance is common. For instance, state bar bodies have occasionally taken restrictive positions regarding sitting constitutional officers, and courts have sometimes adopted narrow interpretations of standing.
Furthermore, while LDAD maintains its status as a nonpartisan, non-political organization focused strictly on constitutional oaths and professional ethics, critics have raised questions regarding the partisan distribution of its filings. LDAD’s consistent response is that its focus follows the locus of the conduct: adherence to constitutional principles is an obligation of the license, regardless of political affiliation. The public availability of every filing allows observers to evaluate the legal rigor of the organization's work firsthand.
What Lawyers Can Do
For members of the legal profession holding active bar cards, LDAD provides structured avenues for engagement:
- Sign the Democracy Commitment: A straightforward blueprint created in 2021 for lawyers committed to protecting democratic institutions and fair elections.
- Join Meeting the Moment: LDAD’s organizing arm, which builds state-level networks and rapid-response teams equipped with toolkits, talking points, and educational resources.
- Write and Publish: Volunteer lawyers regularly place op-eds and letters to the editor in local and national newspapers, supported by LDAD writing toolkits.
- Engage Bar Associations: Push state and local bar associations to adopt active roles in protecting the rule of law and upholding professional ethics standards.
- Start a Chapter: Expand local and student-led chapters to build regional infrastructure for civic education and professional accountability.
What Non-Lawyers Can Do
Protecting democratic institutions does not require a Juris Doctor. Ordinary citizens possess powerful tools to uphold civic infrastructure:
- Subscribe to Action Alerts: Receive timely, direct guidance on public rulemakings, administrative integrity, and civic participation.
- File Public Comments: Participate in administrative agency rulemaking dockets. Well-reasoned public comments carry legal weight and shape the administrative record.
- Engage Locally: Attend city council, planning commission, and school board meetings where foundational community decisions are made.
- Vote Down-Ballot: Participate actively in local, judicial, and municipal elections that directly govern local administration of justice and public services.
- Foster Constructive Dialogue: Use educational materials to discuss democratic principles and institutional norms within community groups, families, and professional networks.
Conclusion: Showing Up for the Framework
Institutions do not maintain themselves. They endure because individuals choose to show up when engagement is inconvenient, read the filings before forming opinions, and treat the rule of law as essential infrastructure rather than an abstract theory. Whether you are managing complex commercial construction, operating a multi-unit residential property, or participating in civic life, stability depends entirely on reliable rules and predictable enforcement.
Learn more about the ongoing work, explore toolkits, and take action at Lawyers Defending American Democracy. For professional insights on building resilient, well-managed projects from the ground up, visit Atlas Premier Services and Consultants.
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