Trump administration to drop defense of law firm sanctions

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Mon Mar 2, 2026, 03:48 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: msn/WSJ

23m


The Trump administration plans to abandon its defense of the president’s executive orders sanctioning several law firms, according to people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department as soon as Monday is expected to drop its appeals of four trial-court rulings that struck down President Trump’s actions against law firms Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and Susman Godfrey.

Trump issued a string of executive orders last year against several law firms and individual lawyers that would have stripped security clearances, restricted their access to federal buildings and directed agencies to end any federal contracts with the firms and their clients.

The White House campaign sent a chill through the industry. Fear of the orders also prompted other large firms to make deals with the president, promising nearly $1 billion in pro bono work for causes favored by the administration. In targeting the firms, Trump cited their connections to his political rivals and criticized their diversity initiatives and pro bono work advocating for immigrants, transgender rights and voting protections.

Several firms sued to challenge the orders, arguing they were unconstitutional retaliation and an abuse of executive power. The firms said the orders would be devastating to their business and that they risked losing lucrative clients that work with the federal government.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-administration-to-drop-defense-of-law-firm-sanctions/ar-AA1XnIr6

---

Just breaking.

REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143411948
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143415897
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143416421
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143425601
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143427595
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143428308
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143431288
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143433898
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143437841
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143438177
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143438918
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143441042
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143441319
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143446388
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143449300
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143450334
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143452127
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143455930
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143456461
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143465117
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143469816
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143475805
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143487138
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143487657
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143488782

[Skittles]

1. anyone bending at the knee for this fascist fuck needs to go out of business

yes INDEED

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Gathering as many "references" that I can find right now to add to the OP!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Trump DOJ gives up on order punishing law firms: report

These orders/agreements were not enforceable. I was happy that a Houston law firm (Susman Godfrey) was one of the law firms who contested these orders. Now Skadden, Paul Weiss and others need to repudiate their "agreements" with trump.

Trump DOJ gives up on order punishing law firms: report

— NewPostNews (@dumb-founded.bsky.social) 2026-03-02T20:01:49.083Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-law-firms-2675538373/

In a seismic admission of defeat, the Trump administration's Justice Department is abandoning its legal defense of an executive order that would have punished law firms that had represented clients against his prior policies or legal woes.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the DOJ is expected to "drop its appeals of four trial-court rulings that struck down President Trump’s actions against law firms Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and Susman Godfrey."

Trump's orders had blocked these law firms from doing business with the federal government or from obtaining security clearances. Experts widely criticized it as undermining the centuries-old principle that everyone has a right to legal counsel and that lawyers should not be punished solely for disagreements with their clients.

Several other law firms cut deals with the Trump administration to avoid similar orders punishing them, which included commitments to provide pro bono aid to various causes Trump agrees with and eliminate diversity policies in their offices.

After cutting those deals, however, many of those law firms realized the terms of the agreements were either unenforceable or not what they had believed they were agreeing to, and quietly abandoned them.

[Skittles]

4. WHO would want to do business with those who immediately caved to Trump?

seriously

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Apparently those who caved not only lost business

but lost lawyers who either joined others who didn't cave or created new firms!

[Skittles]

6. can you imagine how humiliating it would be for any true patriot

working for someone who caves so easily to a fascist?

[BumRushDaShow]

7. They can join the ranks of the infamous

Alina Habba, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, and many others!

[vanlassie]

9. Or "Not what they believed they were agreeing to?"

Did they run it by their lawyer?

[Miguelito Loveless]

8. So, I wonder how the firms

that bowed to extortion from the Child Rapist in Chief feel about this?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. MaddowBlog-Justice Department to throw in the towel on Trump's campaign against law firms

Those looking for evidence to bolster the “when you fight, you win” thesis need look no further than these developments.

The law firms that fought back against Trump’s unprecedented offensive prevailed — the DOJ is now dropping its appeals — while the firms that tried appeasement have struggled.

Seems like firms from the latter group should join the firms in the former?
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-02T21:40:18.972Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/justice-department-to-throw-in-the-towel-on-trumps-campaign-against-law-firms

As The New York Times noted in May after one of the firms’ court victories, “The ruling seemed to validate the strategy, embraced by a minority of firms, of fighting the administration instead of caving to a pressure campaign and making deals with Mr. Trump to avoid persecution.”

Now, the strategy appears even smarter: My MS NOW colleagues Lisa Rubin and Jesse Rodriguez reported that the Trump administration has signaled its intention to withdraw its appeal of the earlier losses. Soon after, The Wall Street Journal similarly reported:

The Trump administration plans to abandon its defense of the president’s executive orders sanctioning several law firms, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department as soon as Monday is expected to drop its appeals of four trial-court rulings that struck down President Trump’s actions against law firms Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and Susman Godfrey.

For the four firms that already fought and won against the White House, the Justice Department’s apparent decision to throw in the towel leaves little doubt that they pursued the right and effective course. These firms saw unjust bullying; they saw other firms capitulate; they decided instead to stand their ground; and they’re in the process of winning the overall fight.

Those looking for evidence to bolster the “when you fight, you win” thesis need look no further than these developments.

As for the firms that decided instead to try to appease Trump, the consequences have been quite dramatic. Legal giants such as Paul Weiss, for example, which was the first firm to negotiate a deal with Team Trump, has lost a variety of partners over its strategy, as well as notable clients. Other firms that caved to the Republican administration have faced related challenges......

I keep waiting for at least one of the firms that went along with the White House to declare, “Upon further reflection, we’ve decided to fight back against the White House offensive and abandon the earlier deal that was reached under unjust circumstances. The president asked too much while threatening too much, and we’ve decided to take our chances.”

As things stand, if one these firms were to take such a step, they’d not just be better off within the industry — they’d also proceed with the confidence that they’d prevail over the administration, just as Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey already have. Watch this space.

I saw that Paul Weiss just opened a Houston office and stole a partner from Kirkland. I would love to see Skadden, Paul Weiss and Kirkland throw away these agreements.

[onenote]

14. I started my career at Wilmer more than 40 years ago.

And while there isn't anyone there today that was there when I was an associate, I'm still very proud of the firm for sticking to its principles.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Those who bent the knee weren't exactly advertising their skill in the law, were they?

It was pretty much admitting "we can't defeat a bunch of losers in court". Not a good look for their willpower or legal acumen.

Good for those who took the fucker to court and won.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

12. Kirkland & Ellis is facing new questions about its deal with President Donald Trump, including the part that Trump advis

Kirkland & Ellis is facing new questions about its deal with President Donald Trump, including the part that Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn played in landing the agreement.

Link to tweet

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/kirkland-pressed-by-democrats-on-epshteyns-role-in-trump-deal

Kirkland & Ellis is facing new questions about its deal with President Donald Trump, including the part that Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn played in landing the agreement.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Monday sent a letter to the law firm, requesting the information. They said Kirkland previously admitted to providing free legal services to federal agencies under the terms of its April deal with Trump, which reportedly involved Epshteyn, but declined to provide any details.

“Kirkland concedes providing free legal work directly after being threatened by the Trump Administration with a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation and the prospect of financial- and access-related penalties that were previously imposed on other law firms,” the lawmakers wrote.....

The trio asked the firm turn over “all records related to your agreement with the Trump administration” as well as “all communications, meeting records, or documents relating to any negotiations with Mr. Epshteyn.”,....

“The involvement of Mr. Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump Administration official, legal fixer, and a Trump co-conspirator to overturn the 2020 presidential election, raises yet further concerns about this arrangement,” the lawmakers wrote. “Epshteyn has been dogged by reports that he solicited illegal pay-to-play schemes in exchange for securing political appointments in the Trump Administration.”

Kirkland is one of the largest firms in the nation and their Houston office has some major league assholes (though one of these assholes just jumped to Paul Weiss). I am glad to see that the law firms who cut deals with trump are being challenged and questioned on those deals

[LetMyPeopleVote]

13. 'Great villains': Law firms that 'groveled' to Trump scorched as revenge bid dropped

The law firms who did NOT cave to trump won. The law firms who caved to trump have suffered some major losses of clients and partners. Now that the DOJ has dropped the silly lawsuit trying to enforce trump's executive orders, I am hoping that the coward law firms will reconsider their "agreements" with trump.

'Great villains': Law firms that 'groveled' to Trump scorched as revenge bid dropped

www.rawstory.com/trump-law-fi...

— Ben Franklin Warned Us (@herobenfranklin.bsky.social) 2026-03-03T00:45:16.500Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-law-firms-2675539138/

President Donald Trump's Justice Department backed down on Monday on a huge monthslong legal battle, no longer defending a series of executive orders that attacked prominent law firms that represented anti-Trump clients in the past.

It's a huge victory for the rule of law, voting rights attorney Marc Elias told MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace — but also a huge black eye for the law firms that made deals with Trump to avoid similar regulatory action against them.....

"I think today is going to be remembered as one of the most important days for the opposition movement against Donald Trump," said Elias, who runs both the Elias Law Group and the media outlet Democracy Docket. "Today was the day that the law firms that stood up tall and said to Donald Trump, we will not bow down to you. We will not obey. We will not bend the knee. Today is the day that the Department of Justice ... [stopped fighting] the victory that the law firms had against the Department of Justice. And what that means for everyone listening is that the four law firms that stood their ground, they can proceed on and have government contracts and enter buildings and do all of the things that Donald Trump tried to deny them."

At the same time, he said, "For the 9 or 10 law firms that capitulated and collaborated, they still have to provide free legal services to Donald Trump."

"They still have to look at themselves in the mirror and explain why they settled a case that wound up getting dismissed, and that the Department of Justice then dropped," said Elias. "They have to explain to their clients why anyone would hire them when they were so cowardly, when they lacked even the basic spine expected of any lawyer, no less one who charges thousands of dollars an hour, and they settled a claim and groveled in the Oval Office rather than standing up to fight."

[riversedge]

15. Trump's attempt to strip several progressive law firms and individual lawyers of security clearances and federal contrac

well, looks like the good guys won!!!

Law firms that caved to #Trump 'humiliated' by administration's latest move

President Donald Trump’s attempt to strip several progressive law firms and individual lawyers of security clearances and federal contracts is over.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-03-03T09:18:11.257Z

[Old Crank]

16. Can these law firms now sue Trump

For billions. Restitution of costs and economic damages as well as reputational damages.

[Old Crank]

17. It sure seems he can dump on others

Without personal consequences.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. trump got mad at the DOJ and now the DOJ will continue to try to enforce these executive orders

The executive orders against the law firms are clearly unconstitutional, but trump does not want to back down

Link to tweet

NEW and BREAKING:

In a major reversal, the Trump admin is NOW trying to walk back its decision to walk away from defending the law firm executive orders in court.

DOJ just notified the four fighting law firms that it now intends to continue defending the legality of the orders in court.

A day ago, DOJ had a very different position.

If the trump DOJ drops these appeals, then there will a final judicial ruling declaring these orders unconstitutional. Such a ruling could encourage the firms who signed the unconstitutional "agreements" to seek to challenge their unconstitutional agreements.

This will be fun to watch

[LetMyPeopleVote]

19. It's official. Govt asks to withdraw its unopposed motion to dismiss its appeal in the law firm executive order cases.

This motion in effect apologizes for the prior motion that is being withdrawn. trump evidently got mad and forced the DOJ to file this motion

[LetMyPeopleVote]

20. In sudden reversal, Trump DOJ moves to revive retaliation cases against law firms

It is very uncommon to do this major of a reversal just before briefs were due. The DOJ's brief is due Friday.

Link to tweet

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-doj-moves-to-revive-retaliation-cases-against-law-firms/

After abandoning its defense of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting major law firms, the Justice Department abruptly reversed itself Tuesday and asked a federal court to let it continue defending the retaliatory orders.

Just one day earlier, the Trump administration had moved to voluntarily dismiss its appeals in four cases challenging Trump’s orders sanctioning Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey. Lower court rulings found the orders unlawful and unconstitutional, concluding they were designed to punish the firms for representing clients and causes Trump opposed.....

The dismissal would have left intact blistering district court decisions warning that Trump’s actions threatened the country’s adversarial legal system — the foundational principle that everyone is entitled to representation, even against a sitting president.

But Tuesday, in a stunning reversal and without explanation, the DOJ filed a motion to withdraw its own dismissal and press forward with the appeals.

In plain terms, the administration is now trying to undo its decision to walk away — and instead keep fighting to reinstate the executive orders judges found unlawful.

All four firms swiftly opposed the Trump admin’s sudden reversal, urging the appeals court to reject the government’s attempt to withdraw its voluntary dismissal.

This will be fun to watch

[LetMyPeopleVote]

21. MaddowBlog-In a stunning reversal, Trump's Justice Department revives campaign against law firms

One day after the DOJ agreed to throw in the towel, it changed its mind and demanded the towel back.

In a stunning reversal, Trump’s Justice Department revives campaign against law firms
One day after the DOJ agreed to throw in the towel, it changed its mind and demanded the towel back.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Audrey (@parickards.bsky.social) 2026-03-03T22:31:15.573Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/in-a-stunning-reversal-trumps-justice-department-revives-campaign-against-law-firms

The victories for the quartet — Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey — looked even better this week when the Trump Justice Department announced plans to throw in the towel: Instead of appealing their earlier defeats, DOJ lawyers said they would abandon their defense of the president’s executive orders.

At least, that was the plan on Monday. On Tuesday morning, MS NOW, citing two sources familiar with the case, reported that the Justice Department had notified the four firms that it’s changed course and will proceed with the appeal after all. The New York Times had a related report:

The Trump administration indicated on Tuesday that it planned to renew its defense of executive orders that it had leveled against law firms, a sharp reversal a day after asking a court whether it could abandon the fight.

In a motion filed with the appeals court in the District of Columbia, where the cases are playing out, the Justice Department formally asked to withdraw its request on Monday to abandon the cases against four law firms.

So, to recap: First, the president tried to exercise greater control over the legal industry in a ridiculous power-grab, telling many of the nation’s largest firms that they would lose government contracts and security clearances unless they agreed to meet the White House’s demands. Four leading firms refused and filed suit.

A variety of judges from across the ideological spectrum ruled against Trump, concluding that the move was obviously illegal. Trump’s Justice Department decided there was no point in racking up another round of defeats, only to take the opposite position a day later without explanation.

“This withdrawal of the administration’s withdrawal is amateurish, and it does not change the likely outcome of the fight,” the Times’ editorial board explained. “Judges — appointed by presidents of both parties — have repeatedly ruled that the executive orders were illegal, and there is every reason to expect that to continue. The Trump administration’s initial withdrawal of its appeals is an indication that at least some officials understand this reality.”

As for the firms involved in the case, I spoke to a spokesperson at WilmerHale, who said the firms “oppose the government’s unexplained request to withdraw yesterday’s voluntary dismissal, to which all parties had agreed.” Watch this space.