{"id":2649321,"date":"2026-08-25T12:23:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignuthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T12:32:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:32:33","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignuthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignuthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/","title":{"rendered":"Uthmeier Demands FL Bar Toss Complaint Against DHS Attorney"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignuthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2649321&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling for the Florida Bar to dismiss a frivolous complaint filed by left-wing activists against DHS General Counsel James Percival. The complaint, signed by 128 former judges (mostly outside Florida), targets percival for criticizing rogue judges&#8217; overreach in immigration cases via a July 23 social media thread. Uthmeier defends percival\u2019s comments as reasonable and grounded in judicial facts, emphasizing that criticizing government officials, including judges, is not misconduct and necessary to uphold judicial integrity. he criticizes the activists\u2019 attempt to silence dissent and highlights this as part of a broader pattern of left-wing groups targeting conservative lawyers. Uthmeier urges the Florida Bar to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-free-speech-doesnt-mean-porn-in-schools\/\" title=\"No, Free Speech Doesn\u2019t Mean Porn In Schools\">uphold free speech rights<\/a> and asserts that holding judges accountable when they overstep their authority is not unethical. The article provides context on the ongoing \u201cbarfare\u201d campaign against conservative legal voices.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YmK0HYXKgIc\">FOX 35 Orlando\/YouTube<\/a>       <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/25\/uthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Uthmeier Demands Florida Bar Dismiss \u2018Meritless\u2019 Complaint Against DHS Attorney&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/25\/uthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Uthmeier Demands Florida Bar Dismiss \u2018Meritless\u2019 Complaint Against DHS Attorney&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/25\/uthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/25\/uthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Uthmeier Demands Florida Bar Dismiss \u2018Meritless\u2019 Complaint Against DHS Attorney&#038;body=%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/25\/uthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\">                     <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); pfTrackEvent(&#039;Uthmeier Demands Florida Bar Dismiss \u2018Meritless\u2019 Complaint Against DHS Attorney&#039;); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &#038; Email\">                     <span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span>                     <\/a>                 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"pf-content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is demanding that the state bar dismiss a \u201cmeritless\u201d complaint filed by left-wing activists against a Trump administration attorney for criticizing rogue judges. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his Monday <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGJamesUthmeier\/status\/2091964625302528482?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter<\/a> to Florida Bar Executive Director Joshua Doyle, Uthmeier slammed the Aug. 18 filing by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/state-democracy-defenders-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/lawyers-defending-american-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lawyers Defending American Democracy<\/a> against Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival as a \u201cshameless publicity stunt.\u201d The complaint was signed by 128 former federal and state judges, \u201conly three\u201d of whom \u201cpreviously served on the bench in Florida,\u201d according to the Florida AG. <\/p>\n<div id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3636569125\" class=\"d-flex justify-content-center fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 fdrlst__b89e9-entity-placement\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As The Federalist previously <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/20\/leftists-wage-barfare-against-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>, the left-wing groups and judges took aim at a July 23 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel\/status\/2080282962155778105?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X thread<\/a> by Percival. Titled, \u201cWorst of the Worst, District Judge Edition,\u201d the DHS general counsel described rogue judges\u2019 overreaching actions in several immigration-related cases involving the administration and how they conflicted with its policy agenda. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this and his media appearances criticizing those activist judges, the left-wing groups and former judges demanded that the Florida Bar investigate Percival. They laughably claimed that his commentary constituted \u201cserious professional misconduct\u201d and accused him of \u201cthreaten[ing] the rule of law and increas[ing] the risk of violence against judges.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While recounting Percival\u2019s criticisms and the Florida Bar\u2019s rules governing attorneys, Uthmeier noted that, \u201c[e]ven if you disagree with his conclusions\u201d about the judges\u2019 rulings \u201cor consider his opinions harsh, Mr. Percival had an objectively reasonable factual basis for sharing them.\u201d The Florida AG said that Percival\u2019s statements were \u201cgrounded in identifiable judicial actions\u201d and that, \u201c[t]aken together,\u201d the facts of each case \u201cprovide an objectively reasonable factual basis\u201d for his criticisms. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPreserving judicial integrity does not require silencing sharp criticism. Judges who are faithful to the Constitution and render high-quality legal opinions do not need to suppress disagreement,\u201d Uthmeier wrote. \u201cBut when the courts routinely exceed their authority, misapply the law, and produce destructive results, no attorney should be required to remain silent under threat of professional discipline.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uthmeier went on to note that existing ethical rules are \u201cnot meant \u2018to protect judges from unpleasant or unsavory criticism,\u2019 but rather \u2018to preserve public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of our system of justice.&#8217;\u201d He further underscored that when the judicial branch \u201chas eroded that confidence all on its own, it is not unethical to hold it to account \u2014 it is a duty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI respectfully urge The Florida Bar to apply rule 4-8.2(a) according to its text and constitutional limits. Criticizing any government official, including the Attorney General of Florida, is not professional misconduct. Judges are no exception,\u201d Uthmeier concluded. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The complaint against Percival is the latest in the left\u2019s ongoing \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/barfare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">barfare<\/a>\u201d against conservative lawyers and their ability to practice law. Other attorneys targeted in recent years include <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/john-eastman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Eastman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/jeff-clark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jeff Clark<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ken Paxton<\/a>. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"sjapoZ7GHxvSU6VdDO2YArNQCPyER5Jtugl1Lz8T3c9nKWw\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today, I sent a letter to the Executive Director of The Florida Bar because activists continue to weaponize the complaint process.<\/p>\n<p>This time, against <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DHSGenCounsel<\/a> Jimmy Percival, for criticizing rogue federal judges who routinely exceed their authority. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZzhvVvgOzo\">pic.twitter.com\/ZzhvVvgOzo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGJamesUthmeier\/status\/2091964625302528482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He is a co-recipient of the 2025 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics and RealClearHealth. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Shawn Fleetwood<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-twitter label-sm d-flex align-items-center mt-10\">             <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter me-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>             <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Visit on Twitter<\/span>            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShawnFleetwood\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-decoration-none\">@ShawnFleetwood<\/a>           <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/shawnfleetwood\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags no-print bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/barfare\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">barfare<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/democracy-defenders-fund\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Democracy Defenders Fund<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/florida\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Florida<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/florida-bar\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Florida Bar<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/immigration\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Immigration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/james-percival\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">James Percival<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/james-uthmeier\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">James Uthmeier<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/judicial-coup\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">judicial coup<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/lawyers-defending-american-democracy\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Lawyers Defending American Democracy<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/rogue-judges\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">rogue judges<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AG Uthmeier urges Florida Bar to dismiss baseless complaint against attorney<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2649322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/James-Uthmeier.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[84631,44392,58772],"class_list":["post-2649321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-dhs-attorney","tag-ethics-complaint","tag-florida-law"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/James-Uthmeier.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2649321"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2649326,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649321\/revisions\/2649326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2649322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2649321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2649321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2649321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}