And, along the way, I’m still going to enjoy life, and pictures of dogs, other peoples’ meals, and celebrate with others still finding joy and silliness in the world.

I have grieved and have been anxious about the future. But, I'm over it. I am not without a voice, and I am obligated - duty bound - to use it. I am letting go of despair and digging in my heels. I'm going to faithfully discharge those duties with renewed strength, today and tomorrow.

I hope that those who have already given that oath are able to join me and take a moment and reflect not only on the joy and the pride of the achievement, but also renew again the obligation – the duty – to uphold, protect, and preserve the rule of law.

My sincere hope and prayer is that the thousands of lawyers who recently raised their hands and said the words were able to reflect upon the gravity and importance of those words and will remember that pledge in the months and years to come.

Who else to uphold the rule of law if not the lawyers and judges who have pledged to that very thing? The Oath of Office carries with it a solemn pledge to support the Constitution and to “faithfully discharge the duties as attorney and counselor at law”.

Those are the threats that require our diligence, vigilance, energy, intelligence, and position as Attorney to call out, to cast light on the shadows, to protect against those erosions, and to defend that which needs defending and, importantly, THOSE who need protecting.

Thousands of more soldiers to help put a name to monsters in the shadows, the insidious threats to our ideals and institutions. Thousands more soldiers to fight against the seemingly small or micro erosions of one ideal, one right, one protection, one check or balance.

They raised their right hands and delivered an oath to defend the Constitution and faithfully discharge the duties of attorney and counselor at law.

There is hope for us. Thousands more soldiers have joined the army in the fight for the rule of law.