Washington D.C., Apr 26, 2011 / 15:58 pm
A prominent law firm has withdrawn from an agreement to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act following pressure from homosexual activist groups. Former U.S. solicitor general Paul Clement has resigned from the firm rather than abandon the case, warning that the incident is a threat to the legal system.
“Defending unpopular decisions is what lawyers do,” Clement wrote to Robert D. Hays, chairman of the Atlanta-based King & Spalding LLP. He cited his “firmly held belief” that representation should not be abandoned “because the client’s legal position is unpopular in certain quarters.”
“The adversary system of justice depends on it, especially in cases where the passions run high. Efforts to delegitimize any representation for one side of a legal controversy are a profound threat to the rule of law,” he said.
Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said that Clement demonstrated that he is “a man of courage” who adheres to “the highest standard of professional ethics.”