Lawyers Should Not Assist Trump in a Potential Power Grab

The New York Times ^ | Oct. 13, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET | Kate Shaw, Contributing Opinion Writer

[E. Pluribus Unum]

As the presidential campaign begins its final sprint, Donald Trump has made crystal clear how he will respond if he loses. He will refuse to accept the results; he will make baseless claims of voter fraud; and he will turn, with even more ferocity than he did in 2020, to the courts to save him.

Mr. Trump has made clear that he views any election he loses — no matter how close or fair — as by definition illegitimate. The question then is whether there will be lawyers willing to cloak this insistence in the language of legal reasoning and therefore to assist him in litigating his way back to the White House.

Republican lawyers have already unleashed lawsuits ahead of Election Day. These legal partisans have pursued their efforts across the country but have concentrated on swing states and key counties. The moves are clearly intended to lay the groundwork for Mr. Trump’s post-election efforts in states where the margins of victory are close.

Such post-election efforts will be credible only if credible attorneys sign on to mount them. So it is critical that lawyers of conscience refuse to assist in those endeavors. As Mr. Trump’s rhetoric grows ever more vengeful and openly authoritarian, a great deal turns on the willingness of members of the legal profession to make common cause with him.

At least since 2000, every close presidential election has involved recounts or litigation. Both sides lawyer up, and a high-stakes game of inches ensues.

Although the lawyers engaged in those efforts are playing hardball, their work is predicated on a shared set of premises: In elections, the candidate who gets the most votes prevails (whether that means winning state or federal office or winning a state’s electoral votes). And in a close election, skilled lawyers will seek...

[kiryandil]

Someone should get little Katie Shaw a copy of the Constitution so's she can read it.

Can you believe that this Fascist female dog is a LAW professor?

Wait'll Americans start practicing DIY law...

[Gay State Conservative]

I think that their bottom line is really hurting.Rumor has it that they’re offering access to their website for 99 cents a month.

[mdmathis6]

They are afraid of NYC and the state of NY suddenly shifting to Trump. It happened before in 1984...a complete surprise when it went to Reagan. The arrest of Adams might be causing Blacks in NYC to question their loyalties!

NY times gets quoted a lot but it’s biggest sphere of influence is still the NYC area. These articles are directed at that market. There must be rumblings afoot!

[Brooklyn Attitude]

The NYT should change its name to “Pravda USA”.

[Gay State Conservative]

Nope...no way. Just look at Alan Dershowitz. Since he started pointing out the examples of the Department of Just Us breaking the law in pursuing DJT he says that he hasn't been invited to the cocktail parties that he had been invited to for years.

[SpaceBar]

The author Kate Shaw is the wife of hard liberal lefty commentator Chris Hayes.

[Brian Griffin]

I live in Florida.

And I remember well Al Gore’s four county recount attempt and his army of lawyers.

[Bookshelf]

I see you. Back again EPU with the NYTimes. How convenient.

[Bookshelf]

I see you. Back again EPU with the NYTimes. How convenient.

[fhayek]

So democracy is now a ‘power grab’. Only, I guess if Democrats don’t win. What a Stalinist position they are taking.

[stinkerpot65]

And Republican cowards will say nothing.

[sauropod]

Yep.

[cdcdawg]

“baseless claims of voter fraud”

Except, what if it really happens? Then what? No amount of evidence will convince these people. Or, what if Trump wins? Will they accept the results? Of course not.

[RoseofTexas]

🐍 =boots!

[maro]

You forgot to mention the insurrection in January by Antifa and friends.

[Jim Noble]

The resistance is going to be ferocious - ten times worse than 2017.

I’m not sure that the situation can be dealt with inside of existing laws.

[parisa]

Iow we democRats plan to cheat like hell, and you better stay clear if you know what’s good for you, and STFO about it.

Not a chance, you miserable bastards.

[Jim Noble]

“Election interference” when it comes to the State Legislatures appointing the President (indirectly) is a meaningless concept.

Voters do not choose the President. State Legislatures do (indirectly). The method is archaic, but the power is vested in legislatures by the Constitution, on purpose.

[Da Coyote]

Why not? They have certainly helped Pedo Joe. It’s gotten to the point that whenever I feel inadequate, I know I can find a NYT article or two for any given day that’ll assure me that there are folks out there who cause negative evolution, and they think that they can write.

[oldernittany]

https://www.news-journal.com/trump-s-toughest-foe-could-be-harris-lawyer-marc-elias/article_f8aaa6ad-a498-5e3c-a522-fa6c026fe4a1.html