This newsletter reaches thousands throughout the legal industry. I cannot—and will not—claim to speak on behalf of all of you. I speak now only for myself. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but [s]he must take it because conscience tells [her] it is right.”

We are living in unprecedented times. Like many of you, I am fearful of what lies ahead. For the first time in my life, I am witnessing the very foundations of our judicial system—the rule of law, due process, and equality before the law—being openly questioned, disregarded, and defied.

People are angry. People are afraid. Our communities are charged with tension, frustration, and profound dismay.

Each day seems to bring new court rulings, new executive orders. Just five years after the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement—and only fifty years since the Civil Rights Movement—we again find ourselves defending fundamental moral and ethical obligations to humankind. The words of the Declaration of Independence, “all [people] are created equal,” have never felt more urgent.

To those of you protesting peacefully: thank you. Whether you are marching, withholding your spending from institutions that fail to uphold their DEI commitments, or exercising your voice through other lawful channels, I commend your courage and conviction. In times like these, anger and chaos are easy; principle and restraint are far more difficult. Upholding the rule of law while confronting injustice requires real strength.

You may disagree—passionately and justifiably—with recent court decisions, law enforcement directives, or executive orders. As legal professionals, we have taken an oath to uphold the law. But that oath also empowers us: to challenge injustice through lawful means, to advocate through due process, and to serve as stewards of justice within an imperfect system.

To those participating in protests: I know my words may not reach every corner of the thousands gathered in cities across the country, each driven by different causes. But one constant remains—we are not in control of the forces reshaping our world. We are, however, in control of our response. And our response must be unified, principled, and peaceful.

Many have asked why WLALA has not issued an official statement regarding the Rule of Law. I am not a quiet woman. I am not reserved. I am opinionated. But I also understand that WLALA’s strength lies in its members—1,400 diverse voices with a wide range of beliefs. While I have personal opinions about many of the actions taken by our government, I recognize and respect our organization’s responsibility to represent all our members, regardless of political affiliation.

Still, we must remember: this country was founded on a profound and radical belief—that “[w]hen a long train of abuses and usurpations…evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government.” These words are not just historical sentiment. They are a moral compass.

Recently, our legal community was rocked by Executive Order 14230, “Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP,” followed by additional orders targeting other law firms. Many of these firms—facing federal pressure—entered into agreements that dismantled their Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts and pledged billions in pro bono services to the government. And yet, Perkins Coie pushed back. On May 2, 2025, they were vindicated by Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Justice Howell opened the opinion with a chilling quote from Shakespeare: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” As haunting as it is, it was prescient. But I prefer another line from Shakespeare: “The truth will out.” And in this case, it has.

The ruling makes one thing abundantly clear: the legal profession is under attack precisely because it holds the keys to justice. As the Court stated, “only the lawyers can prepare and submit the great issues of human justice under law in such manner and form that courts, in the ultimate, may be effective.”

Let me be clear—this case was never about racial discrimination. It was about suppressing DEI initiatives under the false narrative that inclusion is equivalent to exclusion. The government alleged that firms were sending “racially-based delegations” to clients, thereby engaging in discriminatory conduct. Those of us who have worked in law firms know better. We’ve seen the photographs of diverse attorneys featured in pitch decks, only to be excluded once the engagement is secured. The hypocrisy is real—and the time to address it is now.

One amicus brief captured the stakes best: “Our judicial system is under serious threat when determining whether to file an amicus curiae brief could be a career-ending decision.” If that is where we are—if attorneys fear government retaliation for advocating on behalf of disenfranchised groups—then our silence becomes complicity.

So I ask this: let us stand together in our shared commitment to justice. Let us respect differing views while never retreating from our responsibility to speak truth to power. Let us uphold the rule of law while fighting to improve it. Let us protect the integrity of DEI efforts—not because they are fashionable, but because they are necessary.

This month’s message is dedicated to those who honor the rule of law, champion inclusion, and—to quote Martin Luther King, Jr.–“We must walk on in the day ahead with audacious faith in the future.”

Noelle Natoli
President, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles