Michael Teeter, Managing Director of The 65 Project, discusses the urgent need for accountability among lawyers involved in undermining democracy during the 2020 election aftermath. He shares insights on how the organization determines which misconduct warrants bar complaints. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in holding legal professionals accountable and the critical role lawyers play in upholding the rule of law amid rising authoritarianism. Teeter also outlines the implications for the legal profession as the 2024 election approaches.
The 65 Project aims to hold lawyers accountable for unethical actions undermining democracy, emphasizing the importance of integrity within the legal profession.
By meticulously documenting violations and filing detailed complaints, the project seeks to assist bar associations in enforcing disciplinary measures against misconduct.
Operating with a bipartisan ethos, the 65 Project promotes accountability among all lawyers, highlighting the risks of political biases in disciplinary actions.
Deep dives
The Mission of Accountability
The discussion highlights the critical mission of the 65 Project, which seeks to hold lawyers accountable for their roles in attempts to subvert democracy. Initiated in March 2022, the project targets legal professionals involved in the 2020 election controversies, aiming to deter future misconduct within the legal community. By filing complaints against those who participated in activities like the January 6th insurrection or provided false legal advice, the project aims to reinforce the ethical obligations of lawyers. This initiative emerges from concerns about the potential normalization of unethical behavior among lawyers that could undermine the rule of law.
Thoroughness in Complaints
The 65 Project emphasizes the importance of thoroughness when filing bar complaints against lawyers. They believe that submitting detailed complaints is crucial for disciplinary bodies to understand the context and basis of each case. As a result, they review all relevant pleadings and meticulously document ethical violations to assist the bar associations in their investigations. This approach aims to enhance the likelihood of appropriate disciplinary action and foster a more accountable legal profession.
Bipartisanship and Legal Ethics
The 65 Project operates with a bipartisan ethos, underscoring that their efforts are not politically motivated but rather focused on preserving the integrity of the legal profession. They assert that the accountability mechanisms they advocate are vital for all lawyers, regardless of their political affiliation. The project's leadership discusses the challenges faced when filing complaints against high-profile attorneys, indicating that navigating the disciplinary system can be complicated due to institutional biases. Nevertheless, their commitment to legal ethics remains steadfast, with the belief that all lawyers should adhere to the same professional standards.
The Role of Lawyers in Democracy
The conversation emphasizes the significant role lawyers play in maintaining democratic norms and the potential threats posed when they engage in unethical behavior. It is highlighted that without accountability for lawyers involved in political misconduct, the legal profession risks becoming a tool for authoritarianism. The discussion points out that many lawyers appear to be less willing to engage in plans to undermine democracy after facing consequences for prior actions. This reflects the importance of the 65 Project's mission as a means to protect democracy from the actions of those who would exploit the legal system for partisan gain.
Funding and Support of the 65 Project
Funding for the 65 Project comes from a mix of individual donations and philanthropic organizations, allowing the initiative to pursue its mission without excessive overhead. Their operations remain lean, focusing resources primarily on filing bar complaints and providing research support. Potential donors are encouraged to contribute to the project's efforts, as this financial backing is crucial for continued activism against unethical legal practices. Engaging in this project is seen as an impactful way for individuals to support the fight for accountability within the legal system.
OA1129 - From the Department of Justice to DOGE to elected officials around the US, attorneys who swore to uphold and defend the law are working overtime on the bureaucratic front lines of Donald Trump’s campaign to actively degrade and destroy it. But what if those lawyers knew that there could be real consequences for their ability to practice law in the future for illegal, bad faith, and/or unethical conduct?
That question is at the heart of the 65 Project, a non-profit organized to introduce real consequences to the kind of lawyering which is greasing the skids in our long slide into authoritarianism. Managing Director Michael Teter joins to explain how the Project came together, how they decide whether misconduct merits a bar complaint, and how their mission has changed since the 2024 election.
