ABA president calls for judicial independence after lower Stone sentence announced.

Byline: Michaela Paukner, mpaukner@wislawjournal.com

American Bar Association president Judy Perry Martinez called for preserving the integrity of the justice system one day afterthe Justice Department announced it would seek a lower sentence for Roger Stone, a former campaign adviser to President Donald Trump.

Martinez's statement, released on Wednesday, reads:

"The American Bar Association steadfastly supports judicial independence and the sound exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Public officials who personally attack judges or prosecutors can create a perception that the system is serving a political or other purpose rather than the fair administration of justice. It is incumbent upon public officials and members of the legal profession, whose sworn duty it is to uphold the law, to do everything in their power to preserve the integrity of the justice system."

Martinez did not provide any additional information or context, butthestatement came just a day afterthefour lawyers who had prosecuted Stone quit...