A federal judge permanently struck down an executive order by former President Donald Trump on Friday targeting Perkins Coie, a prominent law firm, deeming it unconstitutional. US District
Judge Beryl Howell’s 102-page ruling strongly defends democratic principles. It rejects Trump’s order as a violation of free speech, due process, and the right to counsel.
Judge Beryl Howell declared Trump’s executive order a breach of the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments. The order had revoked security clearances for Perkins Coie employees, banned its attorneys from federal buildings, and cancelled the firm’s government contracts. Howell labelled it “unprecedented retaliation” against a firm for representing political adversaries, likening it to Shakespeare’s line, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
A federal judge on Friday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order sanctioning the law firm Perkins Coie, saying his actions were an unconstitutional effort to punish the firm for taking on clients and cases he dislikes. https://t.co/4KxjTnn7Em
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 3, 2025The Trump administration justified the order by citing Perkins Coie’s ties to Fusion GPS, which has links to the 2016 Russia dossier. Judge Howell rejected this justification, noting Trump’s public hostility toward the firm and emphasising that the order’s wide-ranging effects negatively impacted everyone, from lawyers to support staff.
Trump explicitly targeted Perkins Coie as the first law firm in his campaign against perceived legal opponents. Three other firms have secured temporary injunctions against similar orders, but Judge Howell issued the first permanent block. Perkins Coie celebrated the decision: “This ruling upholds constitutional freedoms and the rule of law.”
A federal judge on Friday blocked a White House executive order targeting an elite law firm, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution against the legal profession.https://t.co/7RgOqltjth
— PBS News (@NewsHour) May 3, 2025The Justice Department has not responded, and an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is likely. The ruling sets a precedent for protecting legal independence against political overreach.
Judge Beryl Howell’s ruling against Trump’s executive order safeguards Perkins Coie and reinforces core democratic values. As the first permanent block, it strengthens the judiciary’s role in checking political overreach. With an appeal looming, this case continues to shape the intersection of law and politics.
