Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier demands the state bar dismiss a “meritless” complaint filed by left‑wing activists against Trump administration attorney James Percival.
Florida AG Calls Complaint a ‘Shameless Publicity Stunt’
In a Monday letter to Florida Bar Executive Director Joshua Doyle, Uthmeier labeled the Aug. 18 filing by the Democracy Defenders Fund and Lawyers Defending American Democracy a “shameless publicity stunt.”
The complaint, signed by 128 former federal and state judges—only three of whom previously served on a Florida bench—accuses Percival of “serious professional misconduct” for his July 23 X thread titled “Worst of the Worst, District Judge Edition.”
The thread criticized rogue judges who overreached in immigration cases, arguing their rulings conflicted with the administration’s policy agenda, a point previously reported by The Federalist.
Activists claim Percival’s commentary threatens the rule of law and could incite violence against judges, but Uthmeier counters that the statements are grounded in identifiable judicial actions and meet the standard of objectively reasonable factual basis.
“Even if you disagree with his conclusions or consider his opinions harsh, Mr. Percival had an objectively reasonable factual basis for sharing them,” Uthmeier wrote, noting that the facts of each case provide that basis.
He added that ethical rules “are not meant to protect judges from unpleasant or unsavory criticism” but to “preserve public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of our system of justice.”
Uthmeier urged the Bar to apply rule 4‑8.2(a) as written, stating that criticizing any government official, including the Attorney General, does not constitute professional misconduct, and that judges are no exception.
“Preserving judicial integrity does not require silencing sharp criticism. When courts exceed authority, misapply the law, and produce destructive results, it is a duty—not an ethical violation—to hold them accountable,” he said.
The filing marks the latest “barfare” effort by the left against conservative lawyers, following similar attacks on John Eastman, Jeff Clark and Ken Paxton in recent years.
