Former Solicitor General of the United States Paul D. Clement resigned his partnership at the King & Spalding law firm on April 25 in a selfless act of high honor and ethical principle. Americans should applaud his strong stand for the principle that lawyers must put the interests of their clients ahead of their own interests.
The law firm had decided to accept as a client the Bipartisan Leadership Group of the House of Representatives in its defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)—the Act that makes clear that the term “marriage” in a federal law means only “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.” The firm had begun its representation of the client. Subsequently, the firm changed its mind and decided not to represent the client.
Disagreement by the law firm’s partners with DOMA’s definition of marriage would not provide a reason to dump the client. The professional rules governing attorney conduct in the District of Columbia make plain that “[a] lawyer’s representation of a client…does not constitute an endorsement of the client’s political, economic, social, or moral views or activities.” And if a majority of the firm’s partners feared a political or financial backlash against the firm, that would provide no basis to dump the client, either, because the rules do not allow a lawyer to put his own financial, business, property, or personal interests ahead of a client’s interests. As Clement made clear in his letter of resignation from the firm, “a representation should not be abandoned because the client’s legal position is extremely unpopular in certain quarters.”
Fortunately for the people of the United States, the defense of the DOMA statute will continue to be in capable hands. Clement will continue to represent the Bipartisan Leadership Group of the U.S. House of Representatives as he joins the Bancroft PLLC firm. Americans spoke through their elected representatives when Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act; thanks to Clement’s representation of the Bipartisan Leadership Group, the American people will have their day in court.
So glad to know there are ethical lawyers out there….You are to be commended, Mr. Clement!
Its time that a few actiivists get their comeuppance. The American people have already voted this intolerant to the wishes of others, sect down in State referendums.
"….in a selfless act of high honor and ethical principle…."
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha…….Ha!
$520.00 per hour of taxpayer money!
I'd be (slightly) more impressed if he'd take the case pro bono.
I suppose you can keep voting, but not sure what part of unconstitutional you have a problem understanding.
And yet the firm signed a contract with Congress that prohibited any lawyer who worked for their firm from advocating for the repeal of DOMA.
Now that’s ethical and fair.
That said, as someone who life has been directly and adversely affected by this despicable law, I want to see it found unconstitutional. May the very best lawyer lose the case. It deserves to lose really, really, REALLY big.
Equal protection under the law.
Now.
A lawyer with ethics? I'm sure there are plenty more out there, but he made a public stand on a political issue…and not because it's political but because it's the law. Sounds like a potential SCOTUS justice for the next GOP President to nominate. He certainly exceeds the Kagan standard.
I call it more Evidence. There is a gigantic pile of Evidence of dirty double dealing coming out of the Administration, so I naturally want to put this example of Lawlessness on the pile. These Progressives are considering themselves "Above the Law" and indeed, "Above the Constitution!" This is a Cultural Issue, a Culture War Issue! The good old Soviet Cold War planners had a terrible time figuring out how to destroy the American Family! Back in those days American Families were very powerful, even unassailable to the Progressives. It is amazing that we are having to Defend Marriage! Spend Public Money against Public Money to define something that has been defined for thousands of years! What happened? Did the Progressives Evolve suddenly? Now they are smart enough to redefine everything! Then! The pure sophestry to think definition, the fiat is changing conditions?
This is all about undermining the Contract With God! The Marriage Contract is a Contract With God! How about them atheists! Using our money to undermine our Religion! All above the People's heads! It is Sorcery! Sorcery I tell you! It is all about destroying the very fabric of America, the American Way! In the end it is the Destruction of American Culture and American Heritage! And of course, American Citizen Sovereignty!
It has absolutely nothing to do with Marriage, nothing to do with Gay Rights! Nothing to do with freedom. Please continue to defend our American Values. We are a Christian Nation! The Declaration of Independance says so! Gee! Do you suppose the Progressive Justice Elena Kagan will defend Marriage? Probably not.
"…I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."
-Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence
Finally, a man of character. Forget the Supreme Court nomination,
we need him in the White House. We need to dump the empty suits
that are in there now. After he saves the country theb we can put him on the Court.