New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Bar Association President Michael Miller railed against President Donald Trump's attacks on the news media and judges at this year's Law Day event held at the state Court of Appeals in Albany on Wednesday.

The theme of this year's event, which is held annually, centered on the importance of a free press and independent judiciary, which translated through James and Miller as an opportunity to criticize Trump for his frequent remarks attempting to diminish both.

“In recent times we have felt the threat to this fundamental principle here at home and abroad,” James said in her remarks. “This is America, where tyrants will not reign, only freedom.”

James compared the behavior of Trump and other federal officials to that seen in countries with tighter restrictions against press freedom, which has at times led to journalists being jailed or killed. She said the constant frequency from politicians decrying the press as dishonest runs counterproductive to a democratic society.

“We know that when democracy actually becomes instilled in a society and country, one of the benchmarks of democracy actually seeping into the soul of a nation is the freedom of the press,” James said. “With the rhetoric coming from the federal government, and the attacks made daily on news organizations, America is not living up to our legacy as a beacon of transparency.”

James did not mention Trump by name during the speech, which lasted about 15 minutes, but made clear to reporters afterward that he was the target of her remarks. She specifically mentioned Trump's characterization of the media as the “enemy of the people,” a label often used in his tweets criticizing journalists.

“The press has been described as the enemy of the people, and I reject that,” James said. “If we are to defend democracy in an open government and open society, it is really critically important that we draw that balance and that we push back and stand up against individuals who believe everything should be done behind closed doors.”

Miller, meanwhile, mentioned Trump by his title at several points during his remarks at the event, referring to the office of the president rather than his surname. He blasted Trump's remarks on the press, but also spoke about the president's public criticisms of members of the judiciary, which have also been frequent.

Trump, for example, criticized a federal judge in Washington state for temporarily blocking his attempted ban on travel into the U.S. from a handful of Muslim-majority countries in 2017. He called the jurist, in a tweet, a “so-called judge,” which Miller echoed in his remarks.

“When the president derides the judiciary whenever unhappy with a judicial decision, confidence in our system of government is eroded—and damage is done,” Miller wrote. “When a judge, duly approved by Congress, is referred to by the President as a 'so-called judge,' damage is done.”

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore speaks during a Law Day ceremony at the Court of Appeals in Albany on May 1st. Photo: David Handschuh/NYLJ

Miller also said the current state of affairs between the public and the press is reminiscent of McCarthy era politics from the middle of the last century. But any misinformation spread in today's age is like adding fuel to the fire because of technological advancements, Miller said.

“In today's digital age, an avalanche of utterly baseless claims and insults are tweeted and then repeated in the social media echo-chamber over and over and over and over again,” Miller said. “Through social media campaigns, there have been serious attacks on the essential institutions of our government, and real damage has been done to the public's confidence in these institutions.”

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, in brief remarks at the start of the event, made a similar point about the effect of social media and the rapid exchange of information on judicial proceedings and the public's interactions with government, including the state's courts. She said it's become increasingly challenging for jurists and the media to promote the public's confidence, partly due to those factors.

“On this day, focused on the purposes of the First Amendment, we pay special attention to the significant ways the internet and social media are changing the style and substance of our democratic participation and putting the rule of law under ever-increasing pressure,” DiFiore said.

DiFiore, James and Miller each urged attorneys to act as advocates for the rule of law and the right to a free press within their role as members of the legal community. DiFiore, specifically, said lawyers must push back against individuals who seek to criticize the work of the judiciary, which is considered a nonpolitical branch of government.

“As lawyers who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution it is up to us to firm back firmly against those who seek to intimidate judges and influence their future decisions,” DiFiore said.

READ MORE: