Just when it looked like a victory for free speech was in sight for Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie in its lawsuit against the federal government, the Trump administration reversed course and refused to throw in the towel.
The administration targeted several large law firms early last year as part of President Donald Trump’s retribution campaign against people and entities whom he considered his enemies. Nine firms bowed to Trump’s bullying and made deals with the administration that raised eyebrows among lawmakers. Only Perkins Coie and three other firms refused to capitulate.
That’s what we expect from good lawyers, to give it their all for justice.
Trump issued an executive order last year to remove security clearances from, and ban Perkins Coie lawyers’ access to, federal buildings under the false claim of “national security” concerns. According to the executive order, the true reasons for the action were to punish Perkins Coie because it represented Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential campaign against Trump; because its stated hiring strategy valued diversity and inclusion; and because Perkins Coie hired a research firm that hired an investigator who created the dossier about Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.
Last March, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell heard the case. She said Perkins Coie was targeted because the firm “expressed support for employment policies the President does not like and represented clients the President does not like.” She ruled that the executive order amounted to “unconstitutional retaliation” and ordered that it be nullified.
The Department of Justice appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and on Monday, almost a year later, the DOJ decided to drop its appeal. But by Tuesday the DOJ changed its mind, without explanation. So, the fight continues.
“We remain committed to defending our firm, our people, and our clients,” Perkins Coie said in a statement on its website.
The executive order against Perkins Coie was nothing more than an attempt to intimidate and silence critics of the White House. Management of Perkins Coie deserves accolades and support as it continues the fight for its firm, and ultimately, for the sanctity of the Constitution.
