Standing Up for The Rule of Law   

VBA Statement on the Rule of Law

On behalf of a unanimous VBA Board of Governors, VBA President Kimberlee Harris Ramsey released this statement on April 2, 2025:

The Virginia Bar Association strongly supports the Rule of Law.

The late G. Michael Pace, who served as VBA president in 2008, defined the Rule of Law in a July 2008 column in the VBA Journal:

“The Rule of Law means we are a nation of laws, not of men. Said better by President Theodore Roosevelt, ‘No man is above the law, and no man is below it.’ It is the basis for a system by which people live where government is accountable to the law. Every citizen’s rights are protected against governmental interference by laws that ensure fairness and are equally applied to all people.”

The VBA reaffirms its dedication to the Rule of Law and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure it remains the cornerstone of our justice system.

The VBA stands in unwavering support of judicial independence. Neither judges nor justices should be attacked or threatened with impeachment based on adverse rulings. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts observed recently, “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” The chief justice also noted that the normal appellate review process exists for that purpose. In Virginia, neither judges nor justices should be attacked or threatened at the time of their reappointment based on a particular ruling or series of rulings.

The VBA rejects the assertion that law firms and individual lawyers can or should be punished because of clients they have represented or causes for which they have advocated. In the United States of America and in the Commonwealth of Virginia, citizens have a right to advance their interests in courts of law when they have been wronged and a right to the representation of their choice.

The VBA reaffirms its dedication to serving as the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service. The VBA will continue its efforts to serve its members, to seek justice in the Commonwealth and to uphold the Rule of Law, while respecting the diverse perspectives of VBA members and remaining a nonpartisan organization.

Joint Statement of Virginia Bar Organizations

On Law Day, May 1, 2025, the nine undersigned bars issued the following statement: 

Every attorney in Virginia takes an oath: “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Today, in the spirit of that oath, the undersigned Virginia legal organizations join together to reaffirm our unified commitment to:

• The Rule of Law, emphasizing its role in safeguarding our democratic institutions and ensuring equal justice for all;
• Judicial Independence, protecting the judiciary from undue influence and preserving its ability to impartially administer justice; and
• Independence of the Legal Profession, upholding our ethical obligations and ensuring our ability to advocate for our clients without fear of reprisal.

Each of these core principles is essential to maintaining public trust in our institutions and preserving the rights and liberties that define us as a free society.  At this critical moment, we stand united in defense of these enduring values and call upon all members of the legal community to do the same.

     The Virginia Bar Association
     Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
     Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
     Virginia Women Attorneys Association
     Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
     Asian Pacific American Bar Association
     Fairfax Bar Association
     Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association
     Augusta County Bar Association