DOJ Reverses Course, Defends Trump Executive Orders Against Law Firms
DOJ on Tuesday withdrew its decision to drop appeals of executive orders targeting four law firms, prompting firm objections and restarting litigation at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Daily BeastTrump’s Humiliated DOJ Makes U-Turn After Being Called Out for TACO
AlterNetRenewed Trump battle with law firms may mean it's Miller time
The GuardianDoJ renews fight against law firms that stood up to Trump in abrupt reversal
Associated PressAfter abandoning law firm executive orders, Trump administration reverses course and pursues fight
Overview
The Justice Department on Tuesday filed to withdraw its request to dismiss appeals and said it would continue defending President Trump's executive orders targeting several law firms, according to a court filing.
On Monday the department had moved to drop the appeals after district judges ruled the executive orders unconstitutional, a development that appeared to end efforts to enforce the directives.
Perkins Coie said the Justice Department "offered no explanation" for the reversal and vowed to defend its firm, and Susman Godfrey said it "will defend itself and the rule of law," according to statements from the firms.
The orders targeted four firms — Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey and Jenner & Block — and nine other firms reached settlements with the administration, with Paul Weiss agreeing to $40 million in pro‑bono work and Fox News paying Dominion $787 million, according to reports.
The appeals court has not yet granted the government's dismissal motion, and the Justice Department argued the court should allow it to pursue the appeal because the firms have not been prejudiced, according to the filing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an arbitrary, retaliatory campaign by highlighting abrupt, unexplained reversals and using loaded terms (e.g., “about-face,” “campaign of retribution,” “punished firms”). They prioritize firm statements and court rulings while noting the administration’s silence, shaping a narrative of executive overreach and legal impropriety.
FAQ
The DOJ withdrew its Monday request to dismiss the appeals and announced it would continue defending President Trump's executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.[5]
The firms challenged the orders as unconstitutional retaliation for representing Trump's political opponents or challenging his agenda, with district judges ruling they violated constitutional rights by terminating contracts, suspending security clearances, and limiting government access.[1]
The orders targeted Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block, which litigated and won rulings; nine other firms, including Paul Weiss, settled by agreeing to nearly $1 billion in pro bono work for White House-favored causes.
Perkins Coie stated the DOJ offered no explanation for the reversal and vowed to defend itself; Susman Godfrey said it would defend itself and the rule of law.[user_story]
