Federal Judges Overturn Trump Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms

A federal judge has permanently struck down President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the law firm WilmerHale, ruling it unconstitutional and a violation of the firm's First Amendment rights and due process protections. Senior Judge Richard Leon described the order as coercive and suppressive of WilmerHale's representation of disfavored clients, emphasizing that upholding it would betray the Founding Fathers' vision. This ruling follows similar decisions against executive orders targeting other law firms such as Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, and Susman Godfrey, all part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration against firms perceived to have supported investigations or opposition against him. The order against WilmerHale was notably linked to the firm's association with Robert Mueller, the former special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, a probe described by the administration as partisan. While some major firms have settled with the administration by agreeing to provide pro bono legal services, WilmerHale and others have challenged the orders in court and succeeded in having them overturned. The rulings reinforce constitutional protections for law firms to choose their clients freely without government coercion.