A federal judge has temporarily blocked an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump that sought to take action against the Perkins Coie law firm. The firm, which had represented Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the order violated its First Amendment rights.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, preventing three provisions of the executive order from being enforced against Perkins Coie. The blocked provisions included a ban on the firm’s attorneys from entering government buildings, restrictions on contact between federal officials and the firm’s attorneys, and a review of the firm’s contracts with federal contractors by Trump administration agency heads.
Dane Butswinkas, an attorney representing Perkins Coie, told the court that the executive order was a significant threat to the firm’s ability to conduct its work in Washington, D.C. He stated that about 25% of the firm’s work is related to government cases, involving more than 90 federal agencies. Butswinkas argued that the order would discourage law firms from representing clients in litigation against the government due to fear of retaliation.
The Trump administration defended the executive order in court, with Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, arguing on behalf of the Justice Department. Mizelle claimed that the president has the authority to determine which individuals or companies can be trusted with national security matters, asserting that the decision was not subject to judicial review. Butswinkas responded by questioning the constitutionality of such claims, warning that unchecked executive power could fundamentally alter the nation’s legal landscape.
In her ruling, Judge Howell expressed concerns over the administration’s actions, saying they were overly broad and targeted the firm even after many of the attorneys involved in Trump-related cases had left. While the order also revoked the security clearances of Perkins Coie attorneys, the firm did not challenge that aspect in its lawsuit.
Perkins Coie is not the only law firm targeted by the Trump administration. The former president previously signed an executive order against attorneys from Covington & Burling, who represented former special counsel Jack Smith in cases related to Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In a Fox News interview, Trump stated his administration was going after multiple law firms, calling them dishonest and harmful to the country.
