Acting Attorney General Sally Yates has ordered the Department of Justice to not defend President Trump's very controversial executive order on immigration. Her rationale can be found here.
Yates is being lauded as a hero, even though her conduct may be difficult to square with legal ethics rules. The episode reminds me in some respects of that involving former Manhattan prosecutor Daniel Bibb.
Update: Unsurprisingly, Yates has been fired. Whatever one's opinion of Yates's conduct, suggesting that she "betrayed" the DOJ will not help improve relations between the Department and White House and hardly promotes a healthy organizational culture. Lawyers should voice their disagreements to their political superiors. Even taking further action - such as going public or resigning - does not make them traitors. Needless to say, I never imagined having to write these words while living in the United States in 2017.