Baala Shakya, Staff Photographer

On Friday, 63 Yale Law School professors released a signed letter condemning recent attacks from President Donald Trump’s administration that have targeted law firms that represent figures and causes that the President opposes. Earlier that same day, Law School Dean Heather Gerken also addressed the community in a separate message emphasizing the importance of the “Rule of Law.”

The Yale faculty letter states that the rule of law is “imperiled” when firms are singled out and threatened over pro bono work or past government service. The letter further slams the Trump administration for punishing people who “lawfully” speak out on matters of public concern. 

The letter also affirmed support of the First Amendment, citing fear that international students are feeling on college campuses due to threats of imprisonment and deportation over speech. 

“While reasonable people can disagree about the characterization of particular incidents, we are all acutely concerned that severe challenges to the rule of law are taking place, and we strongly

condemn any effort to undermine the basic norms we have described,” the letter reads. 

The faculty letter was signed by approximately 66 percent of the Law School’s tenure and tenure-track faculty — representing a majority of the 70 such faculty members listed on Yale Law School’s website. The letter was signed by 46 active professors and 17 emeritus professors. 

Among those signing the letter were three former deans of Yale Law School: professors Robert Post, Harold Hongju Koh and Anthony Kronman. 

When reached by the News, the organizers of the faculty letter declined to comment further, and the signees did not respond to requests for comment.

Gerken’s message, which was separate from the faculty letter, highlighted the rule of law and did not directly mention Trump. She affirmed the values of Yale Law School and the legal profession, citing the need to protect due process and free speech. Gerken added that lawyers should be able to represent clients without fearing “threats, intimidation, or retribution.” 

“Our legal system depends on the ability of judges to resolve legal questions independently, safely outside the shadow cast by threats of reprisal or attack” Gerken wrote. 

She added that the response to disagreement should be to appeal the order rather than impeaching the judge who issued it. 

The Law School’s spokesperson declined to comment further on Gerken’s message. 

The faculty letter mirrors the language and sentiments of a letter signed by Harvard Law School’s faculty, which was released on March 29. Harvard’s letter was signed by roughly 70 percent of its law school faculty, or 82 out of 118 active professors. 

Additionally nine emeritus professors and top deputy deans signed Harvard’s letter. Interim Harvard Law Dean John C.P Goldberg did not sign the letter. 

The Trump administration has attacked numerous law firms through executive orders, which describe “Big Law” firms as engaging in conduct “detrimental” to American interests. Many of the law firms under attack have either represented Trump’s opponents or investigated his allies. 

In response, some major law firms such as Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, have sued the Trump administration. Alternatively, law firms such as Paul Weiss, Skadden Arps and others have cut deals with the administration in defense of future punishments. These deals reflect that these firms capitulated to allocate millions of dollars toward supporting Trump’s agenda. 

Across the country, undergraduate and graduate students have faced threats of deportation from Trump’s administration. Trump first called for the deportations of international students who participated in Pro-Palestine protests as early as January. 

Jewish Yale faculty have also signed a letter denouncing attacks from the Trump administration that target pro-Palestine speech. Drafted by the Boston chapter of Concerned Jewish Faculty & Staff, the statement criticizes the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil. 

Khalil, who is a permanent legal U.S. resident, was arrested on March 8 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents following his involvement in Columbia’s pro-Palestine encampment last spring. 

Yale Law School is located at 127 Wall St.