Trump Administration Drops Suits Against Law Firms After Judges Find Orders Unconstitutional

The Justice Department conceded defeat after federal judges unanimously ruled against the president's executive orders targeting certain law firms.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Justice Department has dropped its fight over President Donald Trump's executive orders that targeted law firms, including Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey, and Jenner & Block, due to the firms' clientele and hiring practices. Federal judges repeatedly ruled the orders were unconstitutional, prompting the administration's capitulation. The targeted firms, which stood up to the administration, welcomed the decision, while some firms that had reached deals with the administration faced backlash within the legal community.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of the legal profession's role in defending the Constitution and the rule of law, even in the face of political pressure. It also raises questions about the limits of presidential power and the consequences for institutions that compromise their ethics to appease the executive branch.

The details

The Justice Department had sued the law firms, seeking to revoke their security clearances, government contracts, and access to government buildings due to their clientele and hiring practices. The firms fought back, and federal judges unanimously ruled the executive orders were unconstitutional. The administration has now conceded defeat and dropped the lawsuits.

  • In May, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell called the executive order against Perkins Coie 'an unprecedented attack' on the U.S. judicial system.
  • The Justice Department dropped the suits on Monday, March 3, 2026.

The players

Perkins Coie

A law firm that has represented high-profile Democrats, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

WilmerHale

A law firm that employed former special counsel Robert Mueller after he investigated President Trump.

Jenner & Block

A law firm that hired Andrew Weissman, who was part of Mueller's team.

Vanita Gupta

The former No. 3 official at the Justice Department during the Biden administration, who criticized law firms that capitulated to Trump's demands.

Rep. Jamie Raskin

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, who praised the law firms that fought back against Trump's orders.

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What they’re saying

“This episode will be remembered as demonstrating the difference between institutions that had the ethical courage to uphold the Constitution and fight bullying and then won, and those that compromised their ethics and gained nothing.”

— Vanita Gupta, Former No. 3 official at the Justice Department (nbcnews.com)

“Today, those firms forced Trump to back down and abandon his blatantly unconstitutional effort to punish lawyers, clients and causes because Trump disagrees with their speech.”

— Rep. Jamie Raskin, Top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee (nbcnews.com)

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the importance of the legal profession's role in defending the Constitution and the rule of law, even in the face of political pressure. It also highlights the consequences for institutions that compromise their ethics to appease the executive branch, as some law firms that reached deals with the Trump administration faced significant backlash within the legal community.