FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
March 26, 2026

The New York Women’s Bar Association Condemns the Weaponization of the “Department of Justice”

The New York Women’s Bar Association (“NYWBA”) condemns the federal government’s continued weaponization of the criminal justice system against political enemies as an attack on the rule of law, our Constitution and our democracy.

Recently, the federal administration issued new legally dubious criminal referrals against one of Donald Trump’s outspoken political enemies, New York State Attorney General Letitia James. These referrals reflect an alarming escalation of the federal government’s pursuit of politically motivated prosecutions and lawsuits seeking not justice, but political retribution.

In Fall 2025, the federal government filed legally dubious criminal charges against AG James and James Comey, another outspoken critic of Trump. In each case, the indictment occurred weeks after President Trump publicly called on the “Department of Justice” to specifically bring such charges – even though career federal prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to warrant the filing of charges. In AG James’s case, the indictment occurred after a federal prosecutor refused to file the legally insufficient charges and resigned.  His replacement was an inexperienced prosecutor who followed the President’s directive. Both cases were ultimately dismissed by a federal court judge, who determined that the prosecutor who filed the charges was illegally appointed.

The U.S. President’s use of the “Department of Justice” to seek retribution against his political foes undermines the rule of law, a bedrock of our constitutional order, which is premised on the consistent enforcement of the law and independent adjudications of its violations. It degrades public confidence in our judicial system and the fair, equal and independent administration of justice. It undermines the very basis of our democracy.

The NYWBA stands firm in its commitment to our democratic principles and the U.S. Constitution that our members were sworn to uphold. As officers of the court, it is our responsibility to speak out against unconstitutional actions that threaten the independence of our judicial system and the equal application of our laws.

The mission of the New York Women’s Bar Association is to improve the status of women in society, educate and promote the professional development and advancement of women lawyers, and promote the fair and equal administration of justice. The Association accomplishes these goals by promoting policies that advance its mission, and through the work of its committees, which includes programming and a newsletter on relevant legal issues.

For further information, contact:
Lissett Costa Ferreira, President,
New York Women’s Bar Association
President@NYWBA.org