We are deans of a diverse range of law schools across the country. We do not use our positions to advance our individual views. But we do have an obligation to support the rule of law and preserve the integrity of the legal profession. On rare occasions, despite our differing situations and views, that obligation requires us to speak as one to defend the fundamental commitments of our profession. This is such a moment.

 

The violent attack on the Capitol was an assault on our democracy and the rule of law. The effort to disrupt the certification of a free and fair election was a betrayal of the core values that undergird our Constitution. Lives were lost, the seat of our democracy was desecrated, and our country was shamed.

 

Many lawyers and judges worked honestly and in good faith, often in the face of considerable political pressure, to ensure the 2020 election was free and fair. However, we recognize with dismay and sorrow that some lawyers challenged the outcome of the election with claims that they did not support with facts or evidence. This betrayed the values of our profession. Our profession demands that when lawyers pursue legal action, they must bring claims in good faith, grounded in facts and evidence, and demonstrate respect for the legal system. Only then can lawyers fulfill their responsibilities as lawyers and public citizens to promote public confidence in the rule of law and the justice system — duties that extend to all professional activities, whether lawyers are representing a client or not. The rule of law is as much a touchstone of our profession as it is of our Constitution.

 

As law deans, our mission is to train the next generation of leaders to uphold the core values of our profession and sustain the rule of law. This should be a moment of reflection for legal educators and members of the legal profession. A sustained effort will be necessary to repair and preserve our precious democratic institutions. As legal educators and lawyers ourselves, we must redouble our efforts to restore faith in the rule of law and the ideals of the legal profession. We have enormous faith in the law’s enduring values and in our students, who will soon lead this profession. We call upon all members of the legal profession to join us in the vital work ahead. 

 

Alicia Ouellette President and Dean Albany Law School

 

Robert Dinerstein Acting Dean and Professor of Law American University, Washington College of Law

 

Jace C. Gatewood Dean and CEO Atlanta's John Marshall Law School

 

Melanie Leslie Dean and Samuel Belkin Professor of Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University

 

Vincent Rougeau Dean and Professor Boston College Law School

 

Angela Onwuachi-Willig Dean and Professor of Law Boston University School of Law

 

Michael T. Cahill President, Joseph Crea Dean & Professor of Law Brooklyn Law School

 

Sean M. Scott President and Dean California Western School of Law

 

Reynaldo Anaya Valencia Dean and Professor of Law Capital University Law School

 

Anita K. Krug Dean and Professor Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology

 

Charles H. Rose III Dean and Professor of Law

 

Claude W. Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University

 

Lee Fisher Dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University

 

Gillian Lester Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law Columbia Law School

 

Jens David Ohlin Interim Dean & Professor of Law Cornell Law School

 

Joshua P. Fershée Dean and Professor of Law Creighton University School of Law

 

Henry C. Strickland Dean Cumberland School of Law, Samford University

 

Mary Lu Bilek Dean and Professor of Law CUNY School of Law

 

Rodney A. Smolla Dean & Professor of Law Delaware Law School, Widener University

 

Jennifer Rosato Perea Dean and Professor DePaul University College of Law

 

Jerry L. Anderson Dean and Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law ,Drake University Law School

 

Kerry Abrams James B. Duke and Benjamin N. Duke Dean and Professor of Law Duke University School of Law

 

April M. Barton Dean and Professor of Law Duquesne University School of Law

 

Horace Anderson Dean and Professor of Law Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University

 

Luke Bierman Dean and Professor of Law Elon University School of Law

 

Mary Anne Bobinski Dean and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law Emory University School of Law

 

Deidré A. Keller Dean and Professor of Law Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law

 

C. Peter Goplerud Dean and Professor of Law Florida Coastal School of Law

 

Antony Page Dean & FIU Foundation Professor of Law Florida International University College of Law

 

Erin O’Hara O'Connor Dean and McKenzie Professor of Law Florida State University College of Law

 

William M. Treanor Dean & Executive Vice President Georgetown Law

 

Leslie E. Wolf Interim Dean and Distinguished University Professor Georgia State University College of Law

 

Eric C. Christiansen Dean of the Law School (Interim, 2020-21), Professor of Law Golden Gate University, School of Law

 

Jacob Rooksby Dean and Professor of Law Gonzaga University School of Law

 

John F. Manning Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

 

Danielle Holley-Walker Dean and Professor of Law Howard University School of Law

 

Austen Parrish Dean and James H. Rudy Professor of Law Indiana University Maurer School of Law

 

Karen E. Bravo Dean and Professor of Law Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

 

Gordon Smith Dean and Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University

 

Jennifer J. Johnson Dean and Erskine Wood Sr. Professor of Law Lewis and Clark Law School

 

Matthew R. Lyon Vice President & Dean Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law

 

Colin Crawford Dean and Professor of Law Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville

 

Lee Ann Wheelis Lockridge Interim Dean and Professor of Law Louisiana State University Law Center

 

Michael Waterstone Dean and Professor of Law Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

 

Michael J. Kaufman Dean and Professor of Law Loyola University Chicago School of Law

 

Madeleine M. Landrieu Dean and Judge Adrian G. Duplantier Distinguished Professor of Law Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

 

Gail Prudenti Dean Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University

 

Cathy Cox Dean and Professor of Law Mercer University School of Law

 

Lincoln L. Davies Dean & Frank R. Strong Chair in Law

 

Michael E. Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University

 

Melanie B. Jacobs Interim Dean & Professor of Law Michigan State University College of Law

 

Patricia Bennett Dean & Professor of Law Mississippi College School of Law

 

Anthony Niedwiecki President and Dean Mitchell Hamline School of Law

 

Anthony W. Crowell Dean and President New York Law School

 

Trevor Morrison Dean and Eric M. and Laurie B. Roth Professor of Law New York University School of Law

 

James Hackney Dean and Professor of Law Northeastern University School of Law

 

James Speta Interim Dean Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

 

José Roberto (Beto) Juárez, Jr. Dean and Professor of Law Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law

 

Jim Roth Dean and Professor of Law Oklahoma City University School of Law

 

Danielle M. Conway Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Penn State Dickinson Law

 

Hari M. Osofsky Dean, Penn State Law and Penn State School of International Affairs Distinguished Professor of Law, Professor of International Affairs, and Professor of Geography

 

Paul L. Caron Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law

 

Jennifer Gerarda Brown Dean and Professor of Law Quinnipiac University School of Law

 

Gregory W. Bowman Dean & Professor of Law Roger Williams University School of Law

 

David Lopez Co-Dean & Professor of Law Rutgers Law School

 

Kimberly M. Mutcherson Co-Dean & Professor of Law Rutgers Law School

 

Elizabeth Kronk Warner Dean S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah

 

William P. Johnson Dean and Professor of Law Saint Louis University School of Law

 

Judith Daar Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold Dean and Professor of Law Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University

 

Douglas J. Sylvester Dean and Professor of Law Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University Anna M. Han Interim Dean Santa Clara University School of Law

 

Martin H. Brinkley Dean and Arch T. Allen Distinguished Professor School of Law, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

Annette E. Clark Dean and Professor of Law Seattle University School of Law

 

Kathleen M. Boozang Dean and Professor of Law Seton Hall University School of Law

 

Jennifer M. Collins Judge James Noel Dean and Professor of Law SMU Dedman School of Law

 

Michael A. Simons Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law St. John’s University School of Law

 

Jenny S. Martinez Richard E. Lang Professor of Law & Dean Stanford Law School

 

Michèle Alexandre Dean and Professor of Law Stetson University College of Law

 

Andrew Perlman Dean & Professor of Law Suffolk University Law School

 

Craig M. Boise Dean and Professor of Law Syracuse University College of Law

 

Gregory N. Mandel Dean & Peter J. Liacouras Professor of Law Temple University, Beasley School of Law

 

Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters Dean and C. Blake McDowell, Jr. Professor of Law The University of Akron School of Law

 

Thomas J. Miles Dean and Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics The University of Chicago Law School

 

Katharine Traylor Schaffzin Dean & Professor of Law The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

 

Sergio Pareja Dean The University of New Mexico School of Law

 

Benjamin Barros Dean and Professor of Law The University of Toledo College of Law

 

Lyn Suzanne Entzeroth Dean and Dean John Rogers Endowed Chair The University of Tulsa College of Law

 

Daniel M. Filler Dean and Professor of Law Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Drexel University

 

David D. Meyer Dean and Mitchell Franklin Professor of Law Tulane University Law School

 

Theresa Beiner Dean & Nadine Baum Distinguished Professor of Law UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law

 

Kevin R. Johnson Dean UC Davis School of Law

 

Jennifer L. Mnookin Dean and Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Professor of Law UCLA School of Law

 

Darby Dickerson Dean and Professor of Law UIC John Marshall Law School, The University of Illinois at Chicago

 

Barbara Glesner Fines Dean & Rubey M. Hulen Professor of Law UMKC School of Law

 

Aviva Abramovsky Dean and Professor of Law University at Buffalo School of Law, The State University of New York

 

Marc L. Miller Dean & Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

 

Margaret Sova McCabe Dean & Professor of Law University of Arkansas School of Law

 

Ronald Weich Dean and Professor of Law University of Baltimore School of Law

 

David L. Faigman Chancellor & Dean and John F. Digardi Distinguished Professor of Law University of California Hastings College of the Law

 

Erwin Chemerinsky Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law University of California, Berkeley School of Law

 

L. Song Richardson Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law University of California, Irivine School of Law

 

Verna L. Williams Dean and Nippert Professor of Law University of Cincinnati College of Law

 

S. James Anaya Dean and University Distinguished Professor University of Colorado Law School

 

Eboni S. Nelson Dean and Professor of Law University of Connecticut School of Law Andrew Strauss Dean and Professor of Law University of Dayton School of Law

 

Bruce P. Smith Dean and Professor of Law University of Denver Sturm College of Law

 

Phyllis L. Crocker Dean and Professor of Law University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

 

Laura Ann Rosenbury Dean and Levin, Mabie & Levin Professor of Law University of Florida Levin College of Law

 

Peter B. Rutledge Dean University of Georgia School of Law

 

Camille A. Nelson Dean and Professor of Law University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law

 

Jerrold Long Dean and Professor of Law University of Idaho College of Law

 

Vikram David Amar Dean and Iwan Foundation Professor of Law University of Illinois College of Law

 

Mary J. Davis Dean and Ashland-Spears Distinguished Research Professor of Law University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law

 

Daniel W. Hamilton Dean & Richard J. Morgan Professor of Law University of Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law

 

Leigh Saufley Dean University of Maine School of Law

 

Donald B. Tobin Dean and Professor of Law University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

 

Eric J. Mitnick Dean & Professor of Law University of Massachusetts School of Law

 

Anthony E. Varona Dean and M. Minnette Massey Professor of Law University of Miami School of Law

 

Mark D. West Dean and Nippon Life Professor of Law University of Michigan Law School

 

Garry W. Jenkins Dean & William S. Pattee Professor of Law University of Minnesota Law School 

 

Susan H. Duncan Dean and Professor of Law University of Mississippi

 

Lyrissa Lidsky Dean & Judge C.A. Leedy Professor of Law University of Missouri School of Law

 

Richard Moberly Dean and Richard C. & Catherine S. Schmoker Professor of Law University of Nebraska College of Law

 

Megan Carpenter Dean and Professor of Law University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

 

Michael S. McGinniss Dean and Professor of Law University of North Dakota School of Law

 

Katheleen R. Guzman Interim Dean and Professor University of Oklahoma College of Law

 

Marcilynn A. Burke Dean and Dave Frohnmayer Chair in Leadership and Law University of Oregon School of Law

 

Theodore W. Ruger Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

 

Amy J. Wildermuth Dean and Professor of Law University of Pittsburgh School of Law

 

Vivian I. Neptune Dean University of Puerto Rico School of Law

 

Wendy C. Perdue Dean and Professor of Law University of Richmond School of Law

 

Robert Schapiro Dean and Professor of Law University of San Diego School of Law

 

Susan H. Freiwald Dean and Professor of Law University of San Francisco School of Law

 

William C. Hubbard Dean and Professor of Law University of South Carolina School of Law

 

Neil Fulton Dean University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law

 

Andrew T. Guzman Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, and Professor of Law and Political Science University of Southern California Gould School of Law

 

Robert K. Vischer Dean and Mengler Chair in Law University of St. Thomas School of Law

 

Douglas Blaze Interim Dean and Art Stolnitz and E.O. Overton Professor of Law University of Tennessee College of Law

 

Renée McDonald Hutchins Dean & Rauh Chair of Public Interest Law University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

 

Michael Hunter Schwartz Dean and Professor of Law University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

 

Risa Goluboff Dean and Arnold H. Leon Professor of Law and Professor of History University of Virginia School of Law

 

Mario L. Barnes Toni Rembe Dean and Professor of Law University of Washington School of Law

 

Daniel P. Tokaji Fred W. & Vi Miller Dean and Professor of Law University of Wisconsin Law School

 

Klint Alexander Dean and Professor of Law University of Wyoming College of law

 

Chris Guthrie Dean Vanderbilt Law School

 

Thomas McHenry President and Dean Vermont Law School

 

Mark C. Alexander Arthur J. Kania Dean and Professor of Law Villanova University

 

Charles Widger School of Law Jane H Aiken Dean and Professor of Law Wake Forest Law School

 

Carla D. Pratt Dean and Professor of Law Washburn University School of Law

 

Brant J. Hellwig Dean and Professor of Law Washington and Lee University School of Law

 

Nancy Staudt Dean and Howard & Caroline Cayne Distinguished Professor of Law Washington University School of Law

Richard A. Bierschbach Dean and Professor of Law Wayne State University Law School

 

James McGrath Dean and President Western Michigan University Cooley Law School

 

Sudha Setty Dean and Professor of Law Western New England University School of Law

 

Allen K. Easley Dean & Professor of Law Western State College of Law at Westcliff University

 

Brian Gallini Dean & Professor of Law Willamette University College of Law

 

A. Benjamin Spencer Dean & Chancellor Professor William & Mary Law School

 

John E. Taylor Interim Dean and Jackson Kelly Professor of Law WVU College of Law

 

Heather K. Gerken Dean and Sol & Lillian Goldman Professor of Law Yale Law School