The judge was correct to enjoin this crazy executive order. I am surprised that they found a DOJ stupid enough to go defend this clearly void executive order
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/12/politics/perkins-coie-trump-executive-order-challenge
A federal judge on Wednesday halted parts of President Donald Trumps executive order that targeted a Democratic-linked law firm.
US District Judge Beryl Howell sided with the firm Perkins Coie, which represented Hillary Clinton in 2016 and has been involved in election litigation that Trump opposed.
Howell granted the firms request for a temporary restraining order for some sections of Trumps order. The parts being blocked include its limitations on government contracts with clients of the firm and the potential restrictions it puts on the firms employees, such as bans on hiring those employees for government positions or barring their access to federal buildings.
The executive order, Howell said, is a punishment for a singled-out entity being disloyal.
This order is based on a view of presidential executive power that was rejected by Judge Howell
The ruling came near the end of a hearing where the top aide to the attorney general argued that the president should be trusted without question if he wants to blacklist or sanction businesses or people as he sees fit across the country.
The argument from Chad Mizelle, the chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, is one of staggering presidential power.
Howell, a Barack Obama appointee, was flabbergasted by Mizelles argument, saying it sent chills down my spine to hear the president could bar all government business with a particular company or person. Howell compared that type of decision by the president to Treasury Department economic sanctions that are decided by the Office of Foreign Assets Control related to national security.
Your view is, Dont be chilled, judge. You can just trust the president to draw the right line, and yes, he has that power? Howell asked. And thats the governments position here?
100 percent, Mizelle said. The president has every right to take that action.
Mizelle also argued the courts shouldnt be able to limit the presidents authority, especially as he decides upon lawyers security clearances or other access questions related to national security.