Join Statement from Bar Associations, Rule of Law Organizations, and Lawyers re the Deployment of Federalized Troops in Los Angeles

June 9, 2025

As a non-partisan coalition of organizations dedicated to upholding the Rule of Law, we are deeply concerned by the federal deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles without the request or consent of California's state and local authorities. The use of federalized troops for domestic law enforcement is an extreme measure that raises profound constitutional questions about executive power and federalism. Our system of checks and balances is threatened when established legal channels for state and local governance are bypassed.

While we support the First Amendment right to peaceful protest, we do not condone any acts of violence or destruction of property. However, inflammatory rhetoric from federal officials that casts protests as an "insurrection" or "invasion" serves only to escalate tensions and erode public trust. A government of laws requires that official action, especially the deployment of military force, adheres strictly to constitutional norms and collaborative processes.

We strongly urge the administration to rescind this order, return command of the National Guard to the Governor of California, and allow state and local authorities to manage the situation. We call for immediate de-escalation and a return to the established legal processes that safeguard our republic.