Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Executive Order Against Perkins Coie

A federal judge, Beryl Howell, has permanently blocked a Trump-era executive order that targeted the law firm Perkins Coie, ruling it unconstitutional due to retaliation and viewpoint discrimination. The order, which suspended security clearances and government contracts for the firm and directed investigations into its hiring, was found to be an attempt to punish perceived political opponents for their legal work, particularly in connection with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. Howell’s 102-page opinion emphasized that using government power to suppress disfavored viewpoints violates the First Amendment and undermines the independence of the legal profession. The ruling compared Trump’s actions to a Shakespearean playbook seeking to eliminate lawyers as obstacles to power, warning against government overreach against legal dissent. Other law firms made settlements to avoid similar targeting, but Howell praised those who challenged the orders in court for defending constitutional rights. The Department of Justice has been ordered to notify all federal agencies that the executive order is nullified.