Love and Our Democracy

As February is the month we celebrate both Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day, it is especially timely to consider the relationship between love and our democracy. For lawyers, that relationship should – indeed, must – run deep, with our commitment to the rule of law at the heart of our profession.

Love takes many forms, and also having a connection to Valentine’s Day, philanthropy means love of humanity. At the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, we combine our love of humanity with our love for our democratic republic, founded on the rule of law and equal justice under the law. We strive to be the means through which the Philadelphia (another “love” word) legal community can wield its power for the good of humanity and advance the rule of law and the promise of equality. One way in which you can support the Foundation, and promote its mission, is to join us on February 11, 2026, from 4-5 p.m. at Archer & Greiner, Three Logan Square for the Justice Matters Forum, a program exploring how new charitable giving laws taking effect in 2026 – including the universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers, new AGI floors, and caps on high-income deductions – will affect donors, nonprofits, and the communities they serve. A reception will follow from 5-6 p.m., offering time for continued conversation with colleagues committed to sustaining nonprofit funding and advancing equity.

Sadly, while I was working on this column, tragic events in Minneapolis brought all these things into an even sharper focus. As Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us:

Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.

Dr. King’s words are more urgent than ever. And for lawyers, they are imperative.

Best Regards,

Josh Snyder