About
Mission
The mission of the Task Force for American Democracy is to: (i) inspire and mobilize America’s duty-bound legal profession to actively support and defend American democracy, the Constitution and the rule of law; (ii) ensure that lawyers are educated and held accountable to their professional obligations to support and defend our democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law; and (iii) leverage the legal profession to educate the public on the reasons for, and the importance of, democracy and the rule of law.
Purpose
-
The Task Force for American Democracy was originally founded as a nonpartisan initiative to address growing concerns about the health and resilience of American democracy.
-
Recognizing the critical importance and evolving scope of its mission, the Task Force for American Democracy builds on its foundational work while expanding its reach and deepening its impact through partnerships, public education, and advocacy. This evolution reflects a commitment to broad, cross-sector engagement and long-term sustainability in the defense of democratic principles.
History
Building Trust in Our Democracy
Established in 2023 as part of the American Bar Association, the Task Force for American Democracy was created to educate the public on the principles of our democracy and deepen their presence in American culture. Led by prominent co-chairs—former Federal Judge J. Michael Luttig and former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Charles Johnson—the Task Force launched a host of successful nonpartisan projects during the first two years of its inception:
-
Built a one-of-a-kind network of lawyers focused on instilling trust in our elections, and conducted listening tours on election issues with local officials in eight states.
-
Recruited more than 100 law school deans, who pledged to educate law students in the rule of law.
-
Hosted national and state election law forums with the Knight Foundation that educated more than 500 journalists prior to the 2024 election.
-
Launched and led a “Reaffirm the Oath” campaign in more than 50 states for Law Day 2025, where thousands of attorneys retook their bar oaths to uphold the Constitution, generating dozens of news stories and more than 8.5 million impressions on X.
Our New Chapter Led by Exceptional Individuals
-
As the Task Force begins its third year, we’re entering a new chapter: transitioning to the Task Force for American Democracy—an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that will expand on our mission of activating and supporting attorneys and bar associations to defend equal treatment under the law in their states and communities. The Task Force will also continue to collaborate with other protectors of our rights and freedoms by connecting lawyers to their efforts, and leverage the national profiles of its members to win attention and reach across political divides
-
Through our work, we honor and carry on the legacy of former Task Force for American Democracy Vice Chair and ABA President Bill Ide, whose vision for a resilient democracy led to the creation of our organization.
Task Force Members
