NTBA Press Release: National Trans Bar Association Denounces Indictment of Attorney Carl Charles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Trans Bar Association Denounces Indictment of Attorney Carl Charles

The National Trans Bar Association stands in full support of attorney Carl Charles in response to the federal indictment filed against him in the Middle District of Alabama. The indictment represents a dangerous precedent for all attorneys, especially those engaged in human rights advocacy in the United States.

Carl was indicted for a single incorrect answer to a question during a court case, an answer in which Carl was not trying to deceive the court but simply was mistaken in remembering whether he had made a telephone call. 

Carl Charles is a highly respected attorney whose work on behalf of transgender people reflects the highest ideals of our legal system. Carl has dedicated his legal career to safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable among us: trans youth and adults. This indictment, which is based on actions a court has already deemed “entirely legal and proper,” is the culmination of three years of targeted harassment aimed at silencing a fierce defender of human rights.

This indictment comes at a time in the United States when transgender people face an alarming combination of legislative, political, and physical violence. State legislatures have introduced and passed hundreds of anti-trans bills in recent years, targeting healthcare access, bathroom use, education, and even the ability to legally exist in public spaces. Politically, transgender identities are increasingly weaponized in culture wars, fueling misinformation and public hostility. This rhetoric contributes to real-world violence, with transgender individuals—particularly Black trans women—experiencing disproportionately high rates of assault and murder. 

This indictment sends a disturbing message to lawyers across the country: if you advocate too zealously for the trans community, and potentially any other marginalized group, you may face criminal charges. That message is unacceptable, and we will not allow that to be our reality. Criminalizing attorneys who advocate for transgender rights undermines the legal system’s ability to protect marginalized communities. It not only threatens the rule of law but also signals that fighting for basic human rights can be punished, creating a chilling effect on civil rights advocacy and eroding fundamental democratic principles.

We call on the legal community, civil rights organizations, and all who value justice to stand with Carl. We will not be silent as human rights law is criminalized.

Carl Charles has our full and unwavering support.

NTBA Board