Justice Department Sues D.C. Bar Over Sanctions Against Trump Lawyers

A bold legal challenge reshaping the boundaries between federal authority and bar regulation

On May 13–14, 2026, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the D.C. Bar’s disciplinary authority over Trump-era federal attorneys—most prominently Jeffrey Clark and Ed Martin—arguing that the process is politically biased and infringes on executive branch prerogatives.

The Lawsuit Unveiled

On May 13, 2026, the Justice Department filed a complaint in federal court in Washington, D.C., targeting the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Hamilton P. Fox III, and the D.C. Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility. The suit seeks to halt the disciplinary proceedings against former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark and Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, arguing the D.C. Bar has no authority to police federal attorneys’ internal deliberations and public actions. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward stated the D.C. Bar will no longer be permitted to “probe sensitive Executive Branch deliberations and target Executive Branch officials with whom they happen to politically disagree.”

Key Figures: Clark and Martin

Jeffrey Clark, a senior Justice Department lawyer during Trump’s first term, played a central role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. A disciplinary panel has recommended disbarring him, a move the DOJ now calls unlawful and politically motivated. Meanwhile, Ed Martin, Trump’s pardon attorney, faces misconduct allegations tied to a threatening letter he sent to the Georgetown Law dean, warning of hiring retaliation over DEI programs. The DOJ’s complaint argues the D.C. Bar lacks power to assess the constitutional validity of his official actions.