Hundreds Sign NC Lawyers For the Rule of Law Statement

More than 700 North Carolina lawyers, including hundreds of NCAJ members, have signed an open letter calling for nonpartisan protection of “our courts, our Constitution, our democracy and the rule of the law.” The group, operating as North Carolina Lawyers for the Rule of Law, is led by a steering committee that includes NCAJ past presidents Joe Cheshire, Phil Baddour Jr., Brad Bannon and David Teddy and NCAJ members Sonya Pfeiffer, David Rudolf and Tony Scheer and also includes Wade Smith and James E. Williams Jr.  

The statement, which is still open for signatures, states that:  

“Our nation was founded on the principle that legal disputes should be resolved in courtrooms, not through threats or violence. This principle protects every one of us, ensuring equal access to justice and equal protection under the law. 

Today, that principle is under unprecedented attack. 

Judges across America face death threats because of their rulings. In 2025 alone, nearly 200 federal judges have received serious death threats, often directly tied to decisions they have made from the bench. 

Lawyers are being intimidated and targeted by government agencies because of the clients and causes they represent.” 

The statement is published on the group’s website and on many signees’ social media accounts. The statement was also scheduled to appear in print and electronic news publications across the state.