Overview
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is hearing consolidated arguments on the administration’s bid to reinstate executive orders against Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey.
- Four federal judges had earlier issued permanent injunctions blocking the orders after finding they violated free speech, the right to counsel, and separation of powers, with some opinions comparing the campaign to McCarthy‑era tactics.
- The measures would bar firm lawyers from federal buildings, suspend security clearances across the firms, and cut off federal contracting work tied to their clients.
- The Justice Department told the court it first moved to drop the appeal in March, then reversed course within a day and now argues the lower courts intruded on the president’s national security and discrimination authorities.
- Civil liberties and industry groups, including the ACLU, Cato, and the American Bar Association, filed briefs backing the firms, while at least nine other firms settled with the White House for pro bono commitments the administration values near $1 billion, prompting high‑profile departures.