As President Donald Trump embarks on his promised campaign of “retribution” against his political enemies, there’s little reason to hope that the leadership of the Justice Department will curb his worst impulses — just consider the specious dismissal of the case against New York Mayor Eric Adams.


But those willing to do the president’s bidding might have forgotten one important protection built into the justice system: Lawyers are governed by ethical rules regulated by state bar associations and state courts. And those authorities can and do discipline — and even disbar — lawyers who order, assist or engage in unlawful conduct.


Though state authorities have historically been reluctant to police the conduct of federal prosecutors, they now will have no choice but to shed that reluctance and show the kind of courage they did after the 2020 elections. Then, disciplinary authorities in New York, California and the District of Columbia sought to suspend and even disbar not only such high-profile private lawyers as Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, but also then-Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, for engaging in dishonesty or undermining the administration of justice."