At its meeting on Friday, December 9, 2022, the ISBA Assembly formally adopted the following statement, which was originally drafted and adopted by the ISBA International and Immigration Law Section Council:
Lawyers, more so than other professionals, have a duty to support and defend the rule of law. With that duty comes the responsibility to identify actions and or persons who threaten to violate and or violate the rule of law, regardless of locale.
Therefore, the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) denounces Vladimir Putin and his regime for their actions against Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and the Russian people. Those actions did not commence in February of this year nor March of 2014. Vladimir Putin and his regime violated and continue to violate each attribute that defines basic principles of decency.