{"id":2652428,"date":"2026-08-31T15:40:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignflorida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T15:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:44:10","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignflorida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignflorida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Bar Rejects Leftist Scheme To Investigate 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_campaignflorida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges%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=2652428&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>The Florida Bar has officially dismissed a complaint against DHS General Counsel James Percival, who was accused by leftist groups and former judges of professional misconduct for criticizing judges&#8217; overreach in immigration cases. The complaint, filed by organizations including the Democracy Defenders Fund and Lawyers Defending American Democracy, claimed percival\u2019s posts threatened the rule of law and judicial safety. however, the Florida Bar stated it does not investigate sitting government officers during their term to avoid encroaching on federal authority, and closed the case. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier supported dismissing the claim,asserting that criticizing judicial overreach is protected speech. Percival responded with a humorous meme celebrating defeating the complaint. This case is part of a broader &#8220;barfare&#8221; campaign targeting conservative lawyers for their criticisms of the judiciary.  <\/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=LXZXt24kiqA\">HSGAC Dems\/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\/31\/florida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/\" 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=Florida Bar Rejects Leftist Scheme To Probe DHS Attorney For Criticizing Rogue Judges&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/31\/florida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/\" 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=Florida Bar Rejects Leftist Scheme To Probe DHS Attorney For Criticizing Rogue Judges&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/31\/florida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/\" 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\/31\/florida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/\" 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=Florida Bar Rejects Leftist Scheme To Probe DHS Attorney For Criticizing Rogue Judges&#038;body=%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/31\/florida-bar-rejects-leftist-scheme-to-probe-dhs-attorney-for-criticizing-rogue-judges\/\" 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;Florida Bar Rejects Leftist Scheme To Probe DHS Attorney For Criticizing Rogue Judges&#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\">The Florida Bar has officially rejected a plea from leftist groups and former judges to investigate a Department of Homeland Security lawyer for criticizing rogue judges. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BillMelugin_\/status\/2094479611836952767?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aug. 18 letter<\/a> obtained by Fox News\u2019 Bill Melugin, the state bar shot down a request to probe DHS General Counsel James Percival. The organization said that it does not \u201cinvestigate or prosecute sitting officers appointed under the U.S. Constitution while they are in office,\u201d and that such prospective actions \u201ccould encroach on the authority of the federal government concerning these officials and the exercise of their duties.\u201d <\/p>\n<div id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-2592356037\" 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/state-democracy-defenders-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/non-profit\/lawyers-defending-american-democracy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lawyers Defending American Democracy<\/a>, and 128 former state and federal judges filed the Aug. 18 complaint against Percival because of a July 23 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel\/status\/2080282962155778105?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X thread<\/a>. In his posts, Percival 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\">The left-wing groups and former judges claimed that Percival\u2019s posts and accompanying media commentary on the subject \u201cconstitute[d] serious professional misconduct.\u201d In demanding an investigation, they further 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\">The leftists\u2019 complaint prompted pushback from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/08\/25\/uthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asked<\/a> the Florida Bar to dismiss the \u201cmeritless\u201d complaint last week. The Republican official said that one does not have to agree with Percival\u2019s criticisms to acknowledge that they do not violate existing bar rules. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPreserving judicial integrity does not require silencing sharp criticism. Judges who are faithful to the Constitution and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignuthmeier-demands-florida-bar-dismiss-meritless-complaint-against-dhs-attorney\/\" title=\"Uthmeier Demands FL Bar Toss ... Against DHS Attorney\">render high-quality legal opinions<\/a> 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\">The Florida Bar declared that the matter involving the complaint against Percival to be \u201cclosed as of the date of this letter.\u201d The organization noted that the left-wing parties may file their complaint once Percival \u201cno longer serves in such a position.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Percival responded favorably to the news of the complaint\u2019s dismissal by posting a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DHSGenCounsel\/status\/2094482392085856295?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meme<\/a> on X of his face pasted on the body of Gandalf the White, a character from The Lord of the Rings. The tweet included the caption, \u201cMe after defeating 128 former judges.\u201d<\/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<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\/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>Florida Bar rejects probe into DHS lawyer over judge criticism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2652429,"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-Percival-1.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[84937,84631,75229,84936,57386],"class_list":["post-2652428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-bar-association-2","tag-dhs-attorney","tag-florida-bar","tag-leftist-scheme","tag-legal-investigation"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/James-Percival-1.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652428","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=2652428"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2652438,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652428\/revisions\/2652438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2652429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2652428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2652428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2652428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}