President Donald Trump is facing a new legal challenge after two major law firms, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, filed lawsuits against his administration. The lawsuits, filed on Friday, contest recent executive orders that seek to block the firms from government contracts and strip security clearances from their attorneys. This legal fight claims the orders are an unconstitutional attack on the legal profession itself.
Legal Giants Challenge Trump’s Directives
The lawsuits argue that the president’s actions are a direct attempt to punish law firms for their past clients and legal work. This follows a successful legal challenge by another firm, Perkins Coie, which previously had a judge block a similar executive order.
Representing WilmerHale, attorney Paul Clement called the move “unprecedented and unconstitutional.” He argued that the orders violate the First Amendment rights of the firms and their clients to free speech and association. Jenner & Block’s lawsuit echoes these concerns, stating the orders undermine the entire legal system.
Allegations of Political Retaliation
The core of the lawsuits is the claim that Trump’s orders are retaliation for investigations involving him. Jenner & Block’s connection is through a former lawyer, Andrew Weissmann, who worked on the Russia probe. Even though Weissmann left the firm in 2021, Trump has continued to attack him publicly.
WilmerHale is also in the president’s sights due to its connection with special counsel Robert Mueller. The Mueller investigation looked into potential ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump signed the executive order against WilmerHale just days after targeting Jenner & Block, suggesting a pattern of retaliation.
A High-Stakes Showdown in Federal Court
The cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, who has a history with this issue. Judge Howell previously ruled against Trump in the Perkins Coie case, blocking key parts of an executive order she described as likely unconstitutional.
The Justice Department had previously questioned Judge Howell’s ability to be impartial, but she rejected their claims. Her involvement suggests Trump’s orders may face a significant legal obstacle. The law firms are now asking the court to block the administration from enforcing these orders while the case proceeds.
Mixed Responses from the Legal Community
While some firms are fighting back in court, others have chosen a different path to avoid a confrontation with the administration. Covington & Burling, for example, has not yet filed a lawsuit despite having an order against them that revoked security clearances for some attorneys.
In contrast, the law firm Paul, Weiss negotiated a settlement to avoid sanctions.
- The firm agreed to provide $40 million in pro-bono legal work for causes supported by Trump’s agenda.
- Its chairman, Brad Karp, publicly criticized a former investigator, Mark Pomerantz.
- Paul, Weiss also agreed to an external review of its hiring practices.
This shows a split in how major law firms are responding to the pressure.
| Law Firm | Action Taken | Key Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Jenner & Block | Filed Lawsuit | Former lawyer Andrew Weissmann (Russia probe) |
| WilmerHale | Filed Lawsuit | Special counsel Robert Mueller (Russia probe) |
| Paul, Weiss | Negotiated a Deal | Avoided sanctions through settlement |
| Covington & Burling | No Lawsuit Yet | Attorneys linked to special counsel Jack Smith |
Broader Implications for the Legal Profession
This legal battle has consequences that go far beyond the firms involved. If the courts rule in favor of Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, it could severely limit the power of a president to use executive orders to target legal opponents.
However, if Trump’s orders are upheld, it could create a new precedent. Future administrations might feel empowered to penalize law firms based on their clients or political leanings. The outcome of this fight in the Washington federal court will shape the relationship between the government and the legal community for years to come.
