Honoring Career DOJ Attorneys Who Stand by the Rule of Law

In the wake of recent departures from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota and the Civil Rights Division following the tragedies in Minnesota, we are reminded that public service is not only about tenure, but about fidelity to the oath we take when we join the Department of Justice. Career attorneys make a commitment to enforce the law fairly, impartially, and without regard to politics — a responsibility that sometimes requires personal sacrifice and deep moral courage.

The response to what’s happening in Minnesota is not simply a wave of resignations. It is a testament to the integrity of experienced attorneys who chose to leave rather than compromise the core principles that define the Department’s mission. Those principles — adherence to evidence, respect for process, and steadfast loyalty to the Constitution — are the bedrock upon which public trust in the justice system is built.

Throughout my time as an Assistant United States Attorney, I saw firsthand how career DOJ prosecutors approach difficult issues with professionalism and a commitment to equal justice under the law. We do not serve partisanship; we serve the American people. We do not chase headlines; we follow the facts. And we do not abandon our ethical obligations, even when ordered to do so.

The departures of experienced attorneys from Minnesota and the Civil Rights Division are a reminder that not every challenge can be solved within the walls of an office or a statute. Sometimes, honoring the oath we swore requires us to step away, not because we’ve lost faith in the mission, but because we maintain an unwavering belief in what that mission must be. This is exactly why so many career attorneys, including myself, made the difficult decision to leave the Department in 2025, and it can safely be inferred that this is the reason turnover of career attorneys remains high in early 2026.

Justice Connection’s mission has always been to support the career workforce of the Department, and stand by the principle that the Justice Department must remain independent, professional, and oriented toward the evenhanded application of the law. Recognizing and commending career attorneys who act on that principle strengthens the broader legal community — not in a political way, but in a constitutional one.

I urge those attorneys still in the Department to reflect not on the headlines, but on the example set by those who have chosen principle over position. We honor the rule of law not by words, but by deeds — including when DOJ lawyers choose to walk away.

Andrew J. Tessman served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of West Virginia from 2019 to 2025.