Bar Council raises concern over threats and violence facing US legal professionals
The Bar Council of England and Wales has expressed support for legal professionals in the United States amid concerns about threats, harassment and violence affecting the profession.
The statement, issued on 23 January 2026, coincides with the annual Day of the Endangered Lawyer, marked on 24 January. The event highlights risks faced by lawyers globally, with the United States selected as the focus country for this year.
According to the Bar Council, recent developments have included threats and attacks directed at law firms, judges and prosecutors. The organisation also referred to broader concerns about interference with legal professionals’ work and sanctions linked to the International Criminal Court.
The Council voiced support for a statement issued by the American Bar Association (ABA) on 20 January 2026. The ABA called on judges to remain vigilant following a shooting incident involving Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven P. Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, at their home on 18 January.
The Bar Council described violence against members of the legal profession as unacceptable and reaffirmed the importance of protecting legal practitioners in all jurisdictions.
Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC, said the organisation is extending support to colleagues across the Atlantic during a period in which lawyers are facing multiple challenges. She noted that harassment, threats and violence directed at legal professionals raise concerns about the rule of law and professional independence.
Brimelow also emphasised that equating lawyers with their clients undermines core legal principles. She reiterated the Bar Council’s commitment to justice, independence and mutual respect within the profession.
The Council further highlighted the United Kingdom’s role in international legal protections, noting that it was among the first countries to sign the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. The Bar Council has called on the UK government to proceed with ratification of the convention.
The focus on the United States this year was determined by the Coalition for the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer. The coalition has also published a report describing what it calls a sustained and co-ordinated campaign affecting the independence of the legal profession and judiciary.
The Day of the Endangered Lawyer was first established in 2010 and is observed annually on 24 January. The date commemorates the 1977 Atocha massacre in Madrid, where several lawyers and a colleague were killed.
The Bar Council said it will continue to engage with international partners and support initiatives aimed at safeguarding legal professionals and upholding the rule of law.