Within the United States, the
role of the government lawyer has catapulted to the national stage. The ethics
of government officials and their personal lawyers, of lawyers employed by the
government, and lawyers heading government agencies and investigations are
facing national scrutiny and attention. High--ranking government attorneys,
including Sally Yates, James Comey, and Preet Bharara, have been removed from
office. The press and citizenry are engaged in a robust debate regarding the
legitimacy and integrity of our government and its processes. In such a
climate, it is critical to examine the role and ethical obligations of lawyers
in government service. What responsibilities do lawyers have--and what concrete
actions can they take-if and when lawyers find themselves working for a
governmental employer who is engaged in potentially unethical,
unconstitutional, or illegal activity? What can lawyers do to preserve and
improve the legitimacy and integrity of our system of government?
Business meeting at program conclusion.
Papers from this program will be
published in The Indiana Law Review.