Two major law firms are planning to ask judges on Wednesday to permanently block President Trump’s executive orders, which they say are hurting their businesses. The law firms argue that the orders, introduced in March, are unconstitutional and attack the legal profession. They believe these orders harm their relationships with clients and target them unfairly, either because of their past legal work or their connection to lawyers Trump sees as his enemies.
Last month, courts temporarily stopped some parts of the orders from being enforced, but on Wednesday, the law firms will ask the judges to cancel the orders completely and rule in their favor. Another law firm is expected to make the same arguments in court next week.
Perkins Coie, one of the law firms, said in a court filing, “Although we did not bring this lawsuit easily, we had to do it to protect our ability to represent our clients.” They argue that the Constitution doesn’t allow any president to punish lawyers simply for working with clients who disagree with their political views, as it would set a dangerous precedent for the country.
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These orders from Trump are part of a broader effort to pressure his opponents. Law firms, along with other targeted groups, are being forced to decide whether to resist the orders and face more consequences, or to agree to certain demands in exchange for avoiding punishment. While some firms are fighting the orders in court, others have chosen to settle.
The orders have similar effects on the law firms, such as limiting lawyers’ access to federal buildings and canceling their federal contracts. The first action against a law firm took place in February, when Trump signed a memo suspending the security clearances of lawyers at Covington & Burling. This firm had represented people who investigated Trump and led to charges that were later dropped.
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The orders against Perkins Coie and WilmerHale are linked to their past legal work. Perkins Coie represented the Democratic presidential candidate in 2016, while WilmerHale had a special counsel investigating Trump’s campaign ties to Russia. Some firms, like Paul Weiss, have reached deals with the Trump administration, including canceling the executive order against them. These firms have agreed to provide legal services for causes the Trump administration supports, such as large firms like Skadden, Arps, and Latham & Watkins.
In short, these law firms are fighting back against orders they say unfairly punish them for doing their jobs and representing their clients.
