Amal Clooney, along with several prominent British lawyers, could face sanctions that may prevent them from entering the United States, according to recent reports. The potential sanctions are a result of their legal advice to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with war crimes charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Financial Times reported that the U.K. Foreign Office has warned high-level barristers, including Clooney, about the possible repercussions following President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14203, issued in February 2025. This order, which targets the ICC for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli officials, has led to speculation that more lawyers could be sanctioned due to their involvement in advising the court.
Clooney, 47, holds British citizenship and is qualified to practice law in both the U.K. and the U.S. She may be denied entry into the U.S., where she shares a home with her husband, actor George Clooney. The couple, who married in 2014, also has twin children, Ella and Alexander, 7.
Trump’s executive order, which invokes various U.S. legal acts, grants the president the authority to freeze assets, deny entry, and prevent economic transactions with individuals deemed “hostile to American interests.” This includes foreign nationals involved in cases the U.S. government opposes, like those related to the ICC’s pursuit of Israeli leaders.
The ICC’s arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, issued in November 2024, relate to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Both Israeli leaders have strongly denied the charges. Additionally, the court also charged leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, who were involved in the October 2023 attack on Israel.
Legal experts, including international criminal lawyer Alexandro Maria Tirelli, have emphasized that if U.K. lawyers are sanctioned, they could be barred from the U.S. for an extended period, even without criminal convictions or due process. As the sanctions would not be appealable through normal legal channels, affected individuals would have to file lawsuits based on claims like violation of due process rights, but this could take months or even years to resolve.
The potential sanctions contradict international law, including the United Nations’ Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which ensure lawyers’ rights to perform their duties without improper interference. The sanctions also raise concerns about undermining legal independence and professional freedom, especially when U.S. authorities target lawyers for carrying out their legal functions in accordance with recognized professional standards.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has also expressed opposition to such measures, particularly after Trump’s previous attempts to sanction legal professionals and institutions that have ruled against him. The ABA rejected these efforts, asserting that such actions threaten the independence of the legal profession and the right to legal counsel free from governmental retribution.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these potential sanctions could affect not only Amal Clooney’s career but also the broader implications for international legal practice.
