Appeals Court Hears Trump Bid to Revive Orders Against 4 Law Firms
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 14
Appeals Court Hears Trump Bid to Revive Orders Against 4 Law Firms
11 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 14
A three-judge D.C. Circuit panel heard arguments Thursday on whether to reinstate Trump executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, Susman Godfrey, WilmerHale and Jenner & Block.
Four district judges had already permanently blocked the orders as unconstitutional, with some comparing the pressure campaign on major firms to McCarthyism and the Red Scare.
The sanctions would have barred some lawyers from federal buildings, limited security clearances and, the firms said in court filings, could have effectively bankrupted them.
The Justice Department argues the injunctions intrude on presidential authority, after briefly moving in March to drop the appeal before reversing course within 24 hours.
The fight sits within a broader clash between Trump and Big Law: at least nine other firms struck deals promising nearly $1 billion in pro bono work to avoid similar orders.
How does this battle over executive orders reshape business risks for all companies holding federal contracts?
Can the legal profession remain independent when lawyers are targeted based on their clients' identities?
Where does a president's security power end and the constitutional rights of private firms begin?
Trump’s 2025–2026 Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms: Constitutional Crisis, Judicial Pushback, and the Fight for Legal Independence
Overview
After President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025, he issued executive orders targeting major law firms as part of a broader campaign against perceived critics, which also included revoking security clearances. These actions quickly faced strong legal challenges in federal courts, where judges rigorously questioned the administration’s justifications. The legal profession became deeply divided, with some firms choosing to fight the orders in court and others settling under pressure. This conflict has raised serious concerns about executive overreach, the independence of the legal profession, and the future balance of power between the branches of government.