A Special Message from the Desk of the President
Articles
From the President’s Desk
Bob Hope, the legendary comedian who hosted the Academy Awards ceremony a record 19 times, used to say that he didn’t approve of political jokes, principally because “I’ve seen too many get elected.”
The classic one-liner, sadly, has resurfaced in recent years as the quality of our elected officials has been in steady decline. Part of the blame for the current state of affairs can be attributed to the razor-sharp edge to today’s body politic in the U.S., where researchers are attempting to understand the breadth and depth of political dissatisfaction in the country.
Many observers believe that our political discord is being fueled by a new form of populism based largely on an anti-immigration fervor and a corresponding effort to weaken independent and governmental institutions. Others decry our inability to “disagree without being disagreeable” when the talk turns to politics.
Political rancor, of course, is part of the fabric of any society, but the combustible nature of social media platforms combined with the incessant drumbeat of right-wing and left-leaning media outlets are stoking the flames of conflict, analysts believe.
Which brings us to this Primerus platform – my President’s Desk column – that in recent years has occasionally veered into the political realm as I’ve expressed my concerns about the many threats to some of our most fundamental and enduring institutions, and how those attacks are impacting our way of life and the values we cherish.
My March 3 column – titled “America should offer heartfelt apology to the world for the error of its ways” – struck a nerve with some readers, who objected to its political tone and the underlying criticism of the president. In particular, they said that political “rants” have no place in the sphere of Primerus and that they dampen the prospects of uniting a country that for years has been fractured by partisan politics.
On that point, I wholeheartedly agree, as I’ve taken great pride since the founding of Primerus in focusing our efforts, energy, and resources on fulfilling our mission of uplifting the legal profession in the eyes of the public.
In pursuit of that goal, we have strived to be “apolitical” and always mindful of the cross-section of countries, cultures, and commerce centers that we have come to represent over the course of our 34-year history.
Our history, in fact, has been marked by a desire to be a unifying force in the legal world, bringing together lawyers and law firms from around the globe who believe in our Six Pillars, the principles that are at the heart of Primerus.
When I founded Primerus in 1992, I did so in part to counter much of the negativity that surrounded the legal profession and made it the butt of lame jokes from late-night comedians. At the time, which was not long after lawyers were allowed to advertise their services, the legal profession as a whole had sunk to a new low in the public’s eye, cratering below those who peddle used cars for a living.
Our founding came less than a year after then-Vice President Dan Quayle appeared before the American Bar Association, claiming in an August 1991 speech that the United States had too many lawyers, too many lawsuits, and too many excessive damage awards.
Quayle’s words were an affront to me, as I grew up in a family lined with attorneys. Both of my parents, Elizabeth and William, were lawyers, as was my uncle, Cameron. While my mother never formally practiced law, my father and uncle were both outstanding attorneys, earning admittance to the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, as well as the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Fortunately, after graduating from University of Michigan Law School in 1962, I was inspired to follow in their legal footsteps, successfully trying more than 200 cases while also becoming a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates.
For good measure, my wife, Sheila, and I are the proud parents of two lawyers, our son Rob, a past president of the State Bar of Michigan, who heads his own firm in Grand Rapids, and our daughter, Jane, a member of the federal bench who previously served as a state Court of Appeals judge.
With all that in mind, it’s safe to say that I’m invested in the future of our legal profession and, accordingly, have earned the right to speak out on its current plight in a nonpartisan way.
The American legal profession stands at a defining moment in its history. Across the nation, attorneys are confronting a profound challenge to the rule of law. The ongoing attacks on democratic institutions and legal norms by Donald Trump and his political allies are not merely partisan disputes or routine policy disagreements. They represent a direct assault on the foundational structures of American governance, including the Constitution itself and the doctrine of separation of powers.
For lawyers, this moment will be defined by a special moral and professional obligation. The present challenge is no longer a conventional political contest between Republicans and Democrats. What the nation faces today goes far beyond ordinary political conflict.
The struggle has evolved into something far more fundamental: a clash between right and wrong, legal and illegal, rational governance and reckless disregard for constitutional limits.
When political actors openly attack courts, undermine the legitimacy of elections, disregard lawful processes, or encourage defiance of constitutional norms, they strike at the very framework that allows a democratic republic to function.
The separation of powers, which was carefully designed by the framers of the Constitution, exists to prevent the concentration of power and to safeguard liberty. When that framework is deliberately weakened or ignored, the entire system of constitutional governance is placed at risk.
In such moments, lawyers – especially those who adhere to the Six Pillars of Primerus – cannot remain on the sideline as passive observers. Their professional responsibilities demand more. The rule of law does not sustain itself automatically, it depends upon individuals willing to defend it when it comes under threat. Attorneys possess specialized knowledge of constitutional principles, legal procedures, and institutional safeguards. That knowledge brings with it a duty to speak out when those safeguards are endangered.
The stakes are particularly significant this year as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That historic document articulated a revolutionary idea: that legitimate government derives its authority from the consent of the governed and is bound by principles of law and justice. For two-and-a-half centuries, the American experiment has endured because generations of citizens – and especially those in the legal profession – have worked to preserve those principles.
The anniversary is therefore more than a historical milestone. It is a reminder of the ideals upon which the nation was built and the responsibilities required to sustain them. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed a commitment to liberty, equality, and accountable government. The Constitution transformed those ideals into a functioning system of laws and institutions. Together, they form the foundation of American democracy.
Today’s struggle must be understood as a defense of those principles rather than a contest of partisan loyalties. The question before the legal profession is not which political party should prevail, but whether the constitutional order itself will be preserved. Lawyers must recognize that defending the rule of law transcends political identity. It is about protecting the legal framework that ensures fairness, stability, and justice for all.
History will judge how the legal community responds to this moment. Those who stand up for constitutional governance will honor the oath they swore and the profession they represent. Those who remain silent or indifferent risk enabling the erosion of the very system that gives the law its authority.
In times of constitutional stress, neutrality can become complicity. Attorneys who sit idly by while the rule of law is weakened are, intentionally or not, aiding in the destruction of the democratic framework that sustains American society. It should not be considered political to speak out in defense of those ideals. The legal profession must therefore rise to meet this challenge – with integrity, courage, and an unshakeable commitment to the Constitution and to the rule of law.
This is our profound responsibility!
Best regards,
Jack Buchanan, President