Robert Maddox Quoted in Law360 on Federal Reserve Case Trump v. Cook

Bradley attorney Robert Maddox was quoted in Law360 saying the case Trump v. Cook is not just about one person’s job, but about whether the Federal Reserve can remain independent from political influence.

Maddox noted that no president has ever attempted to fire a Federal Reserve governor “for cause,” calling such move a major escalation in political pressure on the central bank.

He said the accusations against Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, appear to rely on standard mortgage paperwork language rather than clear evidence of fraud. “The ‘cause’ is fairly thin from an evidentiary perspective,” Maddox said.

Maddox warned that if small paperwork errors can qualify as “cause,” or if courts are unable to review a president’s decision, “most Fed governors would be subject to the whim of political influence.” He emphasized that investors and the broader economy depend on a steady, predictable Federal Reserve. "The one thing the markets want is stability," Maddox explained. "Inflation and instability lead to higher rates."

The full article, “Banking Litigation To Watch in 2026,” was published by Law360 on Jan. 2, 2026. (login required)