"The government has capitulated, which is a fitting end to its plainly unconstitutional attack on Susman Godfrey and the rule of law. We defended ourselves when the president sought to punish and intimidate us because of the clients we represent and the values we hold. We fought for ourselves, but we fought for bigger things, too: for a Constitution that protects our freedoms; for a legal profession that depends on equal justice under the law."
"A number of other law companies made settlements with Trump's administration in the months after his second presidency began to avoid consequences, including being stripped of security clearances and having access to government buildings terminated. Critics called the capitulations, which included commitments of pro-bono legal work for causes favored by Trump, acts of capitalistic cowardice."
The Trump administration pursued legal action against law firms that represented clients or causes opposed by the president, including those defending diversity initiatives or representing political rivals. Four firms—Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block—successfully challenged these executive orders in court. The Justice Department subsequently dropped its appeal, effectively ending the retaliatory campaign. Meanwhile, nine other law firms capitulated by settling with the administration, agreeing to pro-bono work for Trump-favored causes and accepting consequences like security clearance revocation. The four firms that resisted framed their victory as defending constitutional protections, the rule of law, and the legal profession's independence.
#executive-power-and-retaliation #legal-profession-independence #constitutional-rights #trump-administration #rule-of-law
Read at www.theguardian.com
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