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Maddow Blog-Judge strikes down Trump executive order targeting law firm, extending his losing streak
Last edited Tue May 27, 2025, 07:58 PM - Edit history (2)
“I have concluded that this Order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional,” a judge ruled.
Of the many of law firms targeted by the White House, only four agreed to fight rather than appease Trump.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-05-27T21:26:29.948Z
At least so far, those four firms are undefeated in their cases against Trump’s offensive — including a breakthrough win today. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/judge-strikes-trump-executive-order-targeting-law-firm-extending-losin-rcna209344
As last week came to an end, a federal judge appointed by George W. Bush blocked one of Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting a law firm. As this week gets underway, as Reuters reported, a different federal judge appointed by the same Republican president went even further.
“The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting,” Judge Richard Leon wrote. “The Founding Fathers knew this! Accordingly, they took pains to enshrine in the Constitution certain rights that would serve as the foundation for that independence.
“I have concluded that this Order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional.”.....
Given the available evidence, fighting back didn’t just help some of Trump’s targets preserve their reputations, it also seems vastly cheaper.
It also likely would’ve saved some of these firms considerable and avoidable conflicts. The New York Times reported last week that four of the top partners at Paul Weiss — one of the legal giants that gave in to the White House — announced that they are leaving to create their own law firm.
This came on the heels of a Wall Street Journal report that said another firm in the same position, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, is finding that its deal with Trump “is backfiring,” with the agreement “pushing more lawyers to leave, people familiar with the matter said, spurred by anger that the firm capitulated to Trump instead of fighting back against an administration campaign that many in the industry believe to be unconstitutional.”
Of course, for firms that didn’t choose to placate the president, it’s worth noting that it’s not too late for them to reverse course, end their deals with Trump and join with the firms that keep winning in court.
A judge in Washington on Tuesday struck down an executive order targeting law firm WilmerHale, marking the third ruling to overwhelmingly reject President Donald Trump’s efforts to punish firms he perceives as enemies of his administration. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, said Trump’s order retaliated against the firm in violation of U.S. constitutional protections for free speech and due process.
“The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting,” Judge Richard Leon wrote. “The Founding Fathers knew this! Accordingly, they took pains to enshrine in the Constitution certain rights that would serve as the foundation for that independence.
“I have concluded that this Order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional.”.....
Given the available evidence, fighting back didn’t just help some of Trump’s targets preserve their reputations, it also seems vastly cheaper.
It also likely would’ve saved some of these firms considerable and avoidable conflicts. The New York Times reported last week that four of the top partners at Paul Weiss — one of the legal giants that gave in to the White House — announced that they are leaving to create their own law firm.
This came on the heels of a Wall Street Journal report that said another firm in the same position, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, is finding that its deal with Trump “is backfiring,” with the agreement “pushing more lawyers to leave, people familiar with the matter said, spurred by anger that the firm capitulated to Trump instead of fighting back against an administration campaign that many in the industry believe to be unconstitutional.”
Of course, for firms that didn’t choose to placate the president, it’s worth noting that it’s not too late for them to reverse course, end their deals with Trump and join with the firms that keep winning in court.
These rulings make me smile. I am looking forward to the next opinion in the Susman Godfrey case.
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