Washington: Two prominent law firms, Perkins Coie and WilmerHale, plan to ask different judges on Wednesday to permanently overturn executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump, which they claim were intended to punish and damage their operations.
The firms argue that the orders, enacted in March, are unconstitutional attacks on the legal profession. They say the directives harm their client relationships and target them due to their past legal work or ties to lawyers whom Trump views as adversaries.
While courts temporarily blocked key parts of the orders last month, the firms are now seeking full invalidation and favourable rulings. Another law firm, Jenner & Block, is expected to present similar challenges next week.
Lawyers for Perkins Coie stated in a court filing that it felt obligated to challenge the executive order in order to protect its ability to serve its clients effectively. The firm argued that the Constitution does not give elected officials the authority to penalize attorneys simply for representing clients with opposing political views. They warned that allowing the order to remain in place would set a dangerous precedent for the country, AP reported.
The executive orders, which target some of the nation's most prestigious law firms, are seen as part of a broader effort by Trump to extract concessions from perceived adversaries and to reshape civil society.
The executive orders have put law firms and universities in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between challenging the administration and risking greater retaliation or making compromises to avoid penalties. While some firms have taken legal action to fight the orders, others have opted to settle in advance.
These directives have typically carried similar consequences, such as revoking attorney security clearances, limiting access to federal facilities, and cancelling federal contracts.
The first instance of such a move occurred in February when Trump signed a memorandum suspending the security clearances of lawyers at Covington & Burling. These attorneys had represented special counsel Jack Smith, who led investigations into Trump between his presidential terms and initially secured two indictments that were later dropped.
The executive order aimed at Perkins Coie signalled out the firm's past legal work for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign. Similarly, the order against WilmerHale referenced the firm's connection to Robert Mueller, who had been a longtime partner there before leading the investigation into Trump's ties to Russia during his first term.
In contrast, Paul Weiss reached an agreement with the Trump administration last month, which led to the withdrawal of the executive order against it.
Following that deal, over six other law firms have entered into similar arrangements with the White House. These agreements often include commitments to provide free legal services in support of causes endorsed by the Trump administration.
They include Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Milbank; Willkie, Farr & Gallagher; Kirkland & Ellis; Latham & Watkins LLP; Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; and Cadwalader, Taft & Wickersham.