In an era of heightened political turbulence and perceived threats to democratic norms, law school deans across the United States have collectively underscored the crucial role of legal education in maintaining the rule of law. Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of the University of California Berkeley School of Law expressed his unprecedented concern for American democracy, emphasizing that law deans must speak forcefully in defense of democratic principles and the legal framework that sustains them.
“I am very fearful for American democracy in a way that I never could have imagined,” said Chemerinsky in comments given to Law.com. His statements follow the publication of a letter by the American Bar Association (ABA), co-signed by over 100 law school deans, which calls for members of the legal profession to promote training that sustains constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The ABA’s letter, supported by the organization’s Task Force for American Democracy, highlights the pivotal function of law schools in the American legal system and the broader societal fabric. Law deans assert that these institutions are not just academic entities but also custodians of democratic integrity, charged with the responsibility of nurturing a generation of lawyers attuned to the imperatives of democracy.
Such advocacy comes at a time when the legal community is increasingly recognizing the need for a robust defense of democratic principles amidst growing political divisiveness and potential erosions of legal norms. This proactive stance by law schools aims to fortify the commitment of future lawyers to uphold the rule of law and democratic values.
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