Federal judge strikes down Trump executive order targeting law firm WilmerHale, calling it "unconstitutional"

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: May 27, 2025 / 5:19 PM EDT


A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday struck down President Trump's executive order targeting D.C.-based law firm WilmerHale, declaring the order "unconstitutional" and permanently blocking the administration from enforcing it.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued his opinion Tuesday afternoon, blocking the president's efforts to restrict Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP as a part of the Trump administration's crusade against large law firms that have provoked the ire of the president and his allies.

"For the reasons set forth below, I have concluded that this order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional," Leon wrote in the beginning of his order. "Indeed, to rule otherwise would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers!"

WilmerHale is the law firm where Robert Mueller worked both before and after he was special counsel. Mr. Trump's executive order urges agencies to take steps to suspend the security clearances of WilmerHale employees, terminate contracts with the law firm and limit federal employees from engaging with WilmerHale employees, among other things. WilmerHale sued the administration, arguing the president's executive order violates the First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, as well as the Constitution's separation of powers clause.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-judge-strikes-down-trump-executive-order-wilmerhale/

---

Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wilmer-hale-judge-leon-trump-order-illegal-opinion.pdf

Judge is a Shrub appointee.

[J_William_Ryan]

1. Very good.

Of course, Trump has nothing but contempt for the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, as well as the Constitution's separation of powers clause.

Attempting to use the authority of the presidency to attack perceived political opponents is the epitome of despotic authoritarianism – Trump is a fascist thug.

[speak easy]

7. "Trump has nothing but contempt for the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments"

and something worse than contempt for the 14th.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Culinary footnote in opinion

Last edited Tue May 27, 2025, 06:59 PM - Edit history (1)

This made me smile. You do not see this type of footnote that often in legal opinions

Link to tweet

[LittleGirl]

5. LoL. ! nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Maddow Blog-Judge strikes down Trump executive order targeting law firm, extending his losing streak

“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.

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...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-05-27T21:26:29.948Z

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.

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.

[Cha]

8. I love Steve Benen.. TY, LMPV..."..it's not too late to

Reverse Course.. " !

No Kings! 💙🌈

[truthisfreedom]

4. F*cking loser.

Rub his nose in it.

[dickthegrouch]

6. Smart Judge

Making it more difficult for SCROTUS to overturn it at the outset.
Boxed them in good.

[Eugene]

9. That 4th paragraph says in short that Rump tried to shred the U.S. Constitution as well as the rule of law.