‘Endangered lawyer’ day highlights US justice system’s plummeting standing

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Ed Pilkington in New YorkJanuary 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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long article 6 min

For "International Day of the Endangered Lawyer," an international coalition of legal groups has designated the United States as a country where lawyers and judges face political intimidation, threatening the rule of law. This decision, based on a vote of over 40 global organizations, highlights concerns about the Trump administration's actions. The coalition cites a "sustained and coordinated campaign" to undermine the independence of the legal profession and judiciary, noting a pattern of political intimidation and institutional destabilization. The UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers has also raised concerns about the US government's actions. This designation places the US alongside countries with authoritarian tendencies, raising alarms about the state of the justice system.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Netherlands 40% Belarus 40% Afghanistan 40% Iran 40% China 40% UN 50% Symone Gaasbeek 60% Margaret Satterthwaite ×260% Donald Trump ×270% United States ×790%

Keywords

rule of law 90% endangered lawyer 80% judicial system 70% political intimidation 70% us justice system 60% independence of the legal profession 60% bar associations 50% international coalition 50% institutional destabilization 40%