Geoffrey Berman upheld the finest tradition of the SDNY office -

 "The country is well-served by the independent spirit & reputation of the Southern District of NY. "... "a place that follows the facts alone to reach conclusions, without regard to politics, just as Stimson wanted.  “Henry L. Stimson changed the office of US Attorney. He created the model of competence, integrity & professionalism that has set the standard for prosecutors ever since.” That office,  in its original form opened in 1789, was older than the DOJ itself.  The court in which the office’s prosecutors worked was known as the “Mother Court,” because it began operating weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court." 

Maybe that’s why William P. Barr moved to knock off Berman on a Friday night and announced President Trump’s intention to replace him with someone who has never worked there. And maybe that’s why Berman, in the finest traditions of the office, stood up.