A bipartisan coalition of 21 attorneys general from across the United States has filed powerful amicus curiae briefs in support of law firms WilmerHale and Jenner & Block in their lawsuits challenging recent executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump. The attorneys general argue that the orders represent a direct and unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment and the legal profession’s independence.
The coalition — representing 20 states and Washington, D.C. — is urging the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to grant summary judgment in favor of the firms. The legal filings stress that Trump’s executive orders unlawfully punish lawyers for representing clients or causes that the former president personally opposes.
“Advocates who appear in courtrooms must enjoy the right to speak freely on behalf of their clients without fear of government retribution,” the briefs state. “Government entities must never respond to criticism or opposition with intimidation or retaliation.”
In March, the federal court preliminarily found that the Trump orders were “unconstitutional several times over.” The orders directed agencies to suspend security clearances, restrict access to government buildings, and review or terminate federal contracts involving WilmerHale and Jenner & Block. Agencies were further instructed to compel contractors to disclose any affiliations with these firms.
The law firms argue that these measures are designed to silence dissent and coerce loyalty, undermining the foundations of a free legal system.
