Recent events in Pakistan, including the suspension of its constitution, the detention of judges and removal of the chief justice, reminds us of the fragile nature of the rule of law and the importance of the effective administration of justice. These events should remind lawyers everywhere that the rule of law can never be taken for granted. A Constitution supports the rule of law. A fair, impartial and independent judiciary, free from intimidation, is essential to a free and democratic society. Pakistani lawyers and judges, at great personal risk, are demanding that the government stop its assault on the legal system.
The Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) unequivocally supports the rule of law and the efforts of lawyers and judges in Pakistan and across the globe to restore the rule of law. The CBA encourages all people to respect the rule of law. It is a vital and fundamental aspect of a free society and a principle of democracy that all citizens should understand and expect as a way of life. I encourage all CBA members to share with their colleagues, friends and neighbors the importance of this fundamental precept of a free society. As the guardians of the Constitution and the rule of law, our role in reaching out to all citizens is ever more important today.
William H. Prout, Jr.
President, Connecticut Bar Association
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