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DETROIT E ach lawyer takes an oath, the first clause of which is to swear to “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Michigan.” The preamble to the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility for attorneys – our code of ethics – makes the extent of this obligation crystal clear: “As a public citizen, a lawyer should seek improvement of the law, access to the legal system, the administration of justice and the quality of service rendered by the legal profession. “In addition, a lawyer should further the public’s understanding of and confidence in the rule of law and the justice system because legal institutions in a constitutional democracy depend on popular participation and support to maintain their authority.” Lawyers take this seriously.