Former top government lawyers are jumping into the Big Law fight against Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

04/15/2025 06:16 PM EDT


Solicitors general from past administrations are emerging as some of the most prominent opponents of President Donald Trump’s actions targeting the legal profession. In recent weeks, at least three of the nation’s top advocates across Republican and Democratic administrations have spoken out against or challenged in court Trump’s executive orders that seek to punish law firms.

“I think this is a moment to stand up,” former President Joe Biden’s solicitor general Elizabeth Prelogar told students during an appearance at Harvard Law School last week. “It has been key in our society and in our democracy to hold the executive to account. And there is a legal system that is designed to deal with an issue like this one.”

Two prior solicitors general — Donald Verrilli and Paul Clement — have been instrumental in challenging Trump’s orders in court. Verrilli, appointed by former President Barack Obama, represents the firm Susman Godfrey and Clement, appointed by former President George W. Bush, represents the firm WilmerHale. Both firms are fighting Trump’s orders that cut them off from government contracts, strip their lawyers of security clearances and bar firm employees from interacting with government officials or entering government buildings.

As Trump targets major law firms for employing attorneys who have investigated him or for taking on cases he views as opposed to his personal and political interests, nine firms, including some of the most profitable in the world, have opted to strike deals with the president instead of challenging him in court. But for firms who have chosen to fight the president’s actions, there may be no greater advocates than those who previously spoke for the federal government at the highest level. “You would think the first in line to defend the rule of law would be solicitors general,” said a former solicitor general granted anonymity to speak candidly. “Every single former living solicitor general should be out in front of this.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/15/trump-law-firms-solicitor-general-00292020

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Solicitors stripped of security clearances while DOGE Bros. run wild with data /nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. 4 law firms targeted by Trump extend their winning streak against White House

These four law firms targeted by Trump challenged his offensive in court. At this point, they're undefeated.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/4-law-firms-targeted-trump-extend-winning-streak-white-house-rcna201492

While we don’t know why the White House launched this offensive, we do know that the offensive is already struggling. The New York Times reported:

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Trump from punishing the law firm Susman Godfrey, calling the retribution campaign he has waged from the White House against the nation’s top firms “a shocking abuse of power.” Ruling from the bench, Judge Loren L. AliKhan of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia said that the executive order Mr. Trump signed last week targeting the firm stemmed from a “personal vendetta.”

This was a preliminary step. Susman Godfrey sought a temporary restraining order, and the judge agreed, which means Trump’s executive order has been blocked and the punishments the president sought to impose are on hold. That said, the underlying case is ongoing.

Stepping back, however, it’s hard not to notice the recent winning streak for law firms that have fought back against the White House instead of trying to appease the president.

One of the first firms to be targeted, Perkins Coie, filed suit against Trump rather than giving in, and soon after, U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell temporarily blocked the president’s policy, saying in reference to the executive order, “It sends little chills down my spine.” The judge added, “I am sure that many in the profession are watching in horror at what Perkins Coie is going through.”

It was the first in a series of related setbacks for the White House. Around the same time, Jenner & Block was targeted; it also sought a temporary order blocking Trump’s attack, and it also succeeded. With WilmerHale, the exact same thing happened.

In other words, four of the 14 targeted firms fought back rather than giving in, and all four have — at least for now — prevailed when seeking temporary restraining orders, stopping Trump’s gambit in its tracks.

Again, I know attorneys at the Susman firm. I am glad that they won this TRO

[republianmushroom]

3. But, but, no one is above the law. Ha Ha Ha