21 Comments
User's avatar
Dianna McCullough's avatar

Haake provides needed information regarding laws and what the constitution says. These big law companies are showing us their behavior: no principals, no courage and a failure to protect which is what lawyers are supposed to represent. It is very discouraging especially in a time when, if we are paying attention, we have to realize what Trump is up to - dictatorship. What is really puzzling to me is how a wannabe can get away with disobeying the laws- we couldn’t!

Expand full comment
Sabrina Haake's avatar

He's only succeeding because the law is letting him. Republicans lost their spines when musk threatened to primary them. Here's hoping the few noble standouts like Jenner & Block can sustain their push back. Everything is riding on it.

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

Absolutely everything.

Expand full comment
Ann's avatar

She is an excellent writer I agree. As far as DT goes, he's apparently gotten away with acting like this all of his life. Then scotus decision last July validated and almost seemed to encourage this behavior. I for one was devastated by their ruling. Because I knew he would go on to win the election and we'd all pay a horrendous price.

Expand full comment
MaryFaith's avatar

Sabrina Haake’s writing absolutely crackles with clarity, conviction, and legal insight.

Sabrina Haake’s latest article is a tour de force of legal analysis, moral clarity, and fearless commentary. Drawing on her extensive experience as a federal trial attorney, Haake doesn’t just write about the law—she defends its very soul. Her voice is razor-sharp, refreshingly candid, and urgently necessary in a time when institutional courage is in short supply.

What sets Haake apart is her unflinching commitment to the Constitution and to truth. She dissects Trump’s abuse of executive power with surgical precision, grounding her arguments not only in legal doctrine but in a deep understanding of the ethical duties that lawyers and law firms owe to the profession—and to democracy itself.

Her critique of large law firms caving to political intimidation is searing but justified. Haake demands accountability from the legal community, not out of idealism, but from an unshakable belief in the rule of law. She doesn’t moralize—she galvanizes.

Stylistically, the piece is compelling from the first line to the last. Haake’s prose is equal parts intellectual rigor and streetwise candor, with a touch of righteous fury that feels both earned and necessary. It’s rare to find writing that is this accessible and this legally sophisticated all at once.

Sabrina Haake isn’t just offering commentary—she’s issuing a call to arms for lawyers, citizens, and anyone who believes the law should serve justice, not power. Her work belongs on every lawyer’s reading list, and her voice deserves amplification far beyond legal circles.

Expand full comment
Sabrina Haake's avatar

Wow. Will you please be my spokesperson?

Expand full comment
Derek's avatar

In the end it’s the human factor, and one great speaker once said something about “watered with the blood of patriots” and he may have been casting his mind forward to the events of our present day. You know, vast numbers of people are still sort of wondering what’s going on? It’s this real? Vast numbers still say “oh. They’ll get it sorted I’m sure!” But will they? I “borrowed” a hard cover book when I was about 10 or 11 from dad’s bookcase. It had pictures of dead people, black and white stark pictures of bodies, barbed wire…and mesmerized as I was I consumed that book. The stories of the camps. Dad had come home from the war, Holland, France, Berlin. He’d seen it all. He just got on with building a life and never spoke of it. I had now become aware and as I grew I filtered things I heard saw and experienced through the chain of events that produced Hitler. Like little clinks as tumblers fall in an old lock, I hear them fall now as generals are fired, continents threatened and old allies are dismissed by a man who regards dead soldiers as “suckers and losers.” Somewhere a bell us tolling.

Expand full comment
Eric Chaffee's avatar

Q: What color is a banana republican, in office for life? Hint: he wears orange. Donnie, take a lesson from the prez of S.Korea. Martial law will take you to the slammer.

Expand full comment
Bernie Singer's avatar

I worked for a medium sized law firm in the 80's and they wanted us to take a brief case home for the weekend. I only took an empty case home. Ha Ha. I then left the firm and took numerous clients of the firm with me.

Expand full comment
Sabrina Haake's avatar

I've litigated against the world's largest firms. about 15 years ago I brought a glass ceiling case against Oracle. (I practice in Chicago) Vedder Price had the defense. I worked from home in Gary, Indiana when I wasn't in court. Vedder filled my one room office with box after box after box. I opened and reviewed every paper in every file in every box, and I kicked their asses. but I would still cry to watch them fold to trump. they're too fine for that.

Expand full comment
Hal Brown's avatar

From The NY Times: "More Than 500 Law Firms Back Perkins Coie in Fight With Trump"

The firms signed a legal brief supporting Perkins Coie, calling the president’s actions a threat “to the rule of law.” The largest firms declined to sign. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/business/law-firms-perkins-coie-trump.html

BTW: Ann and I had went to Thom Hartmann'show today and had lunch with him. He's says hello.

Expand full comment
Chris Perez's avatar

I am convinced Trump wants to be president for life, and GOP politicians are rooting for him out of loyalty or fear. On April 5th, nationwide demonstrations will show opposition to Trump's policies and desires. It will be a historic day to honor the Constitution. What worries me, however, is where the military stands in this situation. Is it ready and willing to support tyranny over the Constitution? These demonstrations are not picknicks, they will encompass all the damage Trump is capable of raining on the American people, from women's health rights to voting justice and tampering with the Social Security System's human services. The military should stand by their fellow citizens and the Constitution. But, will it? ON APRIL 5TH. BE SOMEWHERE!

Expand full comment
Shasta Greene's avatar

I was on the Lawyers for Good Government call this week. They are planning a Law Day on May 1, where attorneys attending will re-take their oaths (e.g., I, (licensee name) solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney and counselor at law to the best of my knowledge and ability. As an officer of the court, I will strive to conduct myself at all times with dignity, courtesy and integrity.) It is sad that so many in the administration have forgotten or set aside that oath.

Expand full comment
Tommyalphin@gmail.com's avatar

Why in the world would anyone use a law firm that caves in on the first bump?

Expand full comment
Glenn McLaren's avatar

I suspect that there is a high level of duplicity going on here coming from the wealthy elites, Sabrina, including those in large law firms, that is behind their seeming capitulation to Trump. Those who believe that they have some protection from political and economic disruption. From the top of their towers they can look down on the masses and secretly delight in seeing some of their real and darkest desires being enacted by Trump. The cancellation of Left moral righteousness leaving them free to pursue their self-interest, the re-whiting of America and the suppression of the ability of the masses to influence political decisions.

Expand full comment
Debbie Davis's avatar

Good news today: search "Over 500 law firms sign brief backing Perkins Coie suit against Trump" is at ABC News and many other sources.

Expand full comment
Alan Vanneman's avatar

Excellent, as always, except that it should be “blue chip” (or “white shoe”) rather than “blue stocking”. (Look it up.)

Expand full comment
Douglas Macfie's avatar

Miss Haake, I believe this last article is directed towards those who are only concerned with making money and to make money in Donald Trump's world you had better do as he wants - there is a very large majority in almost every country who hate lawyers so their is not very much pity to go around if they are having to bend over to service Donald's desires ,

Expand full comment
Hal Brown's avatar

I think Sabrina should consider going for the "Edward L. Masry and Erin Bockovitch David Kills Goliath Award." Masry was the lawyer Erin Brockovich worked for as a legal assistant. (Julia Roberts was Brockovich and Albert Finney was Masry in the film.)

Expand full comment
Natalie Baker's avatar

In the era of lawlessness and as you state, "Trump’s racket is illegal, and every lawyer at every law firm bending the knee knows it’s illegal," do you think there is there a state(s) disciplinary board that has the grapes to entertain disbarment of an entire firm for violation of ABA Rule 8.4? Such Quislingesque firms should not be allowed to have its lawyers licensed to practice law.

Expand full comment
Sabrina Haake's avatar

Personally, I would hold the Trump administration attys liable for trying to extract concessions unethically and without proper legal authority, before I'd blame the victims for their ill-considered response. I'm talking about the attorneys giving Trump the legal advice he wants to hear, knowing full well that it's unconstitutional and not caring.

Expand full comment