Georgetown Law To Ed Martin: F All The Way Off

Earlier this week, Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, once again, used his office to advance the political positions of the Trump administration instead of uphold law and order. Martin sent out another threatening letter. This one (eventually) went to the Dean of Georgetown University Law Center, William Treanor, demanding the elite law school stop all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts or else his office will no longer consider candidates associated with Georgetown Law (assuming they’re back in the hiring business).

Using the federal government’s hiring power to punish alumni (with no power over law school policies or procedure) for the sins of their alma maters is an established play by the right. And with donations from said alumni an integral part of high ed funding, it has the potential to be a powerful tool to force institutions to do the bidding of conservatives. And as a common response to Trump administration threats has been to obey in advance, Martin had good reason to believe Treanor would fold.

My friends, he did nothing of the sort.

You should absolutely read the letter from Treanor, available below, in its entirety, as it deserves all the snaps. But the letter is constructed in a way to be unique Kryptonite to conservatives, by leaning into the religious institution’s First Amendment protections.

Your letter informs me that your office will deny our students and graduates government employment opportunities until you, as Interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, approve of our curriculum. Given the First Amendment’s protection of a university’s freedom to determine its own curriculum and how to deliver it, the constitutional violation behind this threat is clear, as is the attack on the University’s mission as a Jesuit and Catholic
institution.

Treanor goes hard for all the things that make Jesuit Catholicism good. Jesuits’ beliefs include global justice, peace, and dialogue and the order has a storied tradition of educational excellence. Georgetown has a prominent role in that tradition, and Treanor will not be selling that out over some bullying.

As a Catholic and Jesuit institution, Georgetown University was founded on the principle that serious and sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs promotes intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding. For us at Georgetown, this principle is a moral and educational imperative. It is a principle that defines our mission as a Catholic and Jesuit institution.

But for my money, the closing shot Treanor lobs over the bow is the piece de resistance for its sheer self-assurance:

Georgetown Law faculty have educated world leaders, members of Congress, and Justice Department officials, from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent graduate and professional education, built upon the Catholic and Jesuit tradition. Georgetown-educated attorneys have, for decades, served this country capably and selflessly in offices such as yours, and we have confidence that tradition will continue. We look forward to your confirming that any Georgetown-affiliated candidates for employment with your office will receive full and fair consideration.

Seriously, so many institutions are just trying to survive this iteration of the Trump administration, and saying and doing whatever they have to in order to get by. But Treanor knows that surviving by betraying the principles you hold near and dear is no victory. There’s not a ton of good news out there, but Georgetown Law’s willingness to step into the fray is a great moment.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

The post Georgetown Law To Ed Martin: F All The Way Off appeared first on Above the Law.