WASHINGTON — In a significant legal decision, a federal judge has nullified another of former President Donald Trump’s executive orders aiming at penalizing law firms. The ruling was made by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, who declared the order against the law firm Susman Godfrey as unconstitutional, mandating a permanent block on its enforcement.
This ruling represents the latest in a series of judicial setbacks for Trump’s attempts to sanction law firms engaged in legal work he disapproves of, especially those employing lawyers he deems adversarial. Susman Godfrey suggested that Trump’s targeted action was at least partly due to its representation of Dominion Voting Systems in a high-profile defamation lawsuit against Fox News. This lawsuit, related to unsubstantiated claims following the 2020 presidential election, concluded with a substantial settlement.
In recent weeks, other judges have similarly nullified orders against firms such as Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, and WilmerHale. These orders aimed to enforce punitive measures like suspending attorneys’ security clearances and restricting their access to federal buildings.
Judge AliKhan commented that the order was part of a broader attempt to punish firms for their positions that conflicted with Trump’s views. He remarked, “Every court that has addressed challenges to these orders has found severe constitutional violations, resulting in permanent injunctions. Today, this court aligns with those judgments, concluding that the order against Susman breaches the U.S. Constitution and must be permanently blocked.”
Susman Godfrey released a statement praising the judge’s decision as a landmark victory for legal rights in America. “We commend the Court for deeming the administration’s order unconstitutional. Our firm remains dedicated to upholding the rule of law and protecting our clients’ rights, irrespective of their political or other affiliations,” the statement emphasized.
Meanwhile, other prominent law firms have taken proactive steps to evade similar executive orders by entering into settlements. These agreements often require the firms to allocate substantial resources, including the provision of millions of dollars’ worth of gratis legal services to projects supported by the Trump administration.