Latest news with #SixthAmendments
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trump order targeting law firm WilmerHale blocked as 'unconstitutional,' federal judge rules
A federal judge permanently blocked President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the law firm WilmerHale on Tuesday. Trump's order sought to limit the influence of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP by urging federal agencies to suspend security clearances for the firm's employees as well as cancel contracts with the organization. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon found that the order violated the Constituion's First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, as well as separation of powers. "For the reasons set forth below, I have concluded that this order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional," Leon wrote. "Indeed, to rule otherwise would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers!" Leon argued that Trump's order served as a threat to law firms across the country. Federal Judges In New York And Texas Block Trump Deportations After Scotus Ruling "If you take on causes disfavored by President Trump, you will be punished!" Leon wrote. "Other firms facing similar executive orders have capitulated to President Trump." Read On The Fox News App WilmerHale drew Trump's ire as the home firm of Robert Mueller, who served as special counsel during Trump's first term and investigated alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. 'Woefully Insufficient': Us Judge Reams Trump Admin For Days-late Deportation Info Federal judges have been a bane to Trump's agenda in the opening months of his return to the White House, foiling or delaying key aspects of his immigration and economic plans. A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted the administration's effort to kill New York City's controversial congestion pricing program as well. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order barring the administration from getting rid of the program and withholding federal funding if the city failed to nix the program. Another federal judge in Massachusetts chastised senior Trump officials Monday night for failing to comply with his court orders after a group of migrants was deported from the U.S. to South Sudan. Appeals Court Blocks Trump Admin's Deportation Flights In Alien Enemies Act Immigration Suit U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy rejected Trump's request to amend or withdraw the judge's earlier decision requiring them to keep in U.S. custody six migrants who were deported to South Sudan without due process or notice. "It turns out that having immigration proceedings on another continent is harder and more logistically cumbersome than defendants anticipated," Murphy said in his order, noting that the Trump administration is free to return individuals to have the interviews carried out on U.S. soil. The salvo comes as Murphy, a federal judge in Boston, presides over a class-action lawsuit from migrants who are challenging deportations to third countries, including South Sudan, El Salvador and other countries, including Costa Rica, Guatemala and others that the administration has reportedly eyed in its ongoing wave of deportations. Fox News' Breanne Deppisch contributed to this reportOriginal article source: Trump order targeting law firm WilmerHale blocked as 'unconstitutional,' federal judge rules
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Trump order targeting law firm WilmerHale blocked as 'unconstitutional,' federal judge rules
A federal judge permanently blocked President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the law firm WilmerHale on Tuesday. Trump's order sought to limit the influence of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP by urging federal agencies to suspend security clearances for the firm's employees as well as cancel contracts with the organization. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon found that the order violated the Constituion's First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, as well as separation of powers. "For the reasons set forth below, I have concluded that this order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional," Leon wrote. "Indeed, to rule otherwise would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers!" Leon argued that Trump's order served as a threat to law firms across the country. "If you take on causes disfavored by President Trump, you will be punished!" Leon wrote. "Other firms facing similar executive orders have capitulated to President Trump." WilmerHale drew Trump's ire as the home firm of Robert Mueller, who served as special counsel during Trump's first term and investigated alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. Federal judges have been a bane to Trump's agenda in the opening months of his return to the White House, foiling or delaying key aspects of his immigration and economic plans. A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted the administration's effort to kill New York City's controversial congestion pricing program as well. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order barring the administration from getting rid of the program and withholding federal funding if the city failed to nix the program. Another federal judge in Massachusetts chastised senior Trump officials Monday night for failing to comply with his court orders after a group of migrants was deported from the U.S. to South Sudan. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy rejected Trump's request to amend or withdraw the judge's earlier decision requiring them to keep in U.S. custody six migrants who were deported to South Sudan without due process or notice. "It turns out that having immigration proceedings on another continent is harder and more logistically cumbersome than defendants anticipated," Murphy said in his order, noting that the Trump administration is free to return individuals to have the interviews carried out on U.S. soil. The salvo comes as Murphy, a federal judge in Boston, presides over a class-action lawsuit from migrants who are challenging deportations to third countries, including South Sudan, El Salvador and other countries, including Costa Rica, Guatemala and others that the administration has reportedly eyed in its ongoing wave of deportations.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge strikes down ‘Shakespearean' Trump order targeting law firm
May 3 (UPI) -- A federal district court judge on Friday struck down an executive order from President Donald Trump that had targeted a law firm that once worked with political rival Hillary Clinton. In March, Trump had signed an executive order calling the actions of the law firm Perkins Coie "dishonest and dangerous" for hiring the opposition research firm Fusion GPS to create a "dossier" that the president alleged was designed to steal the 2016 election. The order had imposed punitive measures such as revoking security clearances, barring the firm from government contracts, and restricting its attorneys' access to federal buildings. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell began her 102-page critique of Trump's order by calling the president's playbook "Shakespearean" and noting that no American president had ever issued an order like the one Trump had. "The importance of independent lawyers to ensuring the American judicial system's fair and impartial administration of justice has been recognized in this country since its founding era," she said in her ruling. The judge, an Obama appointee, referenced a line from the famed playwright's Henry VI, in which a follower of the power-hungry rebel Jack Cade called for the death of lawyers who "stood as guardians to the rule of law" even under the reign of a king viewed as ineffectual amid widespread economic hardship. Howell called it a "cringe-worthy twist" that Trump's order appeared to target just the lawyers that he does not like, calling his actions "unconstitutional" for particularly violating the First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments. "Using the powers of the federal government to target lawyers for their representation of clients and avowed progressive employment policies in an overt attempt to suppress and punish certain viewpoints, however, is contrary to the Constitution," Howell wrote. Howell said that Trump's attacks on Perkins Coie could cause the firm "irreparable monetary harm" and that it has already suffered "significant losses" after clients had to pull away because of their own work with the government. "Without an injunction, these losses are most certain to continue," Howell wrote. But "because sovereign immunity bars recovery of money damages, these losses could not be adequately compensated by legal remedies." The Trump administration is likely to appeal Howell's decision. "Today, the Court permanently blocked the unlawful Executive Order targeting our firm. This ruling affirms core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution," the firm said in a statement. "We are pleased with this decision and are immensely grateful to those who spoke up in support of our positions. As we move forward, we remain guided by the same commitments that first compelled us to bring this challenge: to protect our firm, safeguard the interests of our clients, and uphold the rule of law."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge permanently blocks ‘unconstitutional' Trump order targeting law firm Perkins Coie
A federal judge on Friday ruled that an executive order signed by President Donald Trump targeting a law firm that represented his 2016 presidential opponent was unconstitutional. US District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the executive order targeting Perkins Coie violated the First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, calling it a 'blunt exercise of power' that 'is not a legitimate use of the powers of the U.S. government or an American President' 'The U.S. Constitution affords critical protections against Executive action like that ordered in EO 1423,' Howell, referring to the executive order, wrote in her 100-plus page opinion. 'Government officials, including the President, may not 'subject … individuals to 'retaliatory actions' after the fact for having engaged in protected speech.'' The firm, which represented Hillary Clinton in 2016 and was involved in voting rights litigation that Trump opposed, was one of several law firms to sue over Trump's executive orders that took aim at the firms' security clearances, their access to federal officials and the contractor relationships their clients have with the government. Perkins Coie and other firms previously secured emergency rulings pausing parts of the Trump directives, but Howell's ruling Friday night was the first to strike down an executive order targeting a law firm in its entirety and to do so on a permanent basis. Howell, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, quotes William Shakespeare, John Adams and the Bill of Rights as she railed against Trump's directives. 'In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase 'Let's kill all the lawyers,'' she wrote, referring to a line from Shakespeare's 'Henry VI,' the executive order 'takes the approach of 'Let's kill the lawyers I don't like,' sending the clear message: lawyers must stick to the party line, or else.' 'Using the powers of the federal government to target lawyers for their representation of clients and avowed progressive employment policies in an overt attempt to suppress and punish certain viewpoints, however, is contrary to the Constitution, which requires that the government respond to dissenting or unpopular speech or ideas with 'tolerance, not coercion,'' she said. Howell sided with the firm in finding that the order amounted to unconstitutional retaliation for speech protected by the First Amendment. She also found it was unconstitutional in how vaguely it was written and in the lack of due process in how it was rolled out. Additionally, she concluded that it violated the Fifth and Sixth Amendment for how it interfered with a client's right to choose counsel. 'EO 14230, the accompanying fact sheet, and the context surrounding the Order's issuance each express President Trump's disapproval of plaintiff's First Amendment activity and demonstrate that EO 14230 targeted plaintiff because the Firm expressed support for employment policies the President does not like, represented clients the President does not like, represented clients seeking litigation results the President does not like, and represented clients challenging some of the President's actions, which he also does not like,' the judge wrote. 'That is unconstitutional retaliation and viewpoint discrimination, plain and simple.' This story has been updated with additional details.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Federal judge strikes down Trump order targeting law firm Perkins Coie
U.S. President Donald Trump walks to deliver remarks on tariffs, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. PHOTO:REUTER Listen to article A federal judge on Friday permanently blocked an executive order by former President Donald Trump that targeted prominent law firm Perkins Coie, declaring it unconstitutional and a direct attack on core democratic principles. US District Judge Beryl Howell issued a sweeping 102-page ruling finding the executive order violated the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, including protections for free speech, due process, and the right to counsel. The order had suspended security clearances for Perkins Coie employees, barred its attorneys from federal buildings, and terminated the firm's government contracts. 'This action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare,' Howell wrote, referencing the quote 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.' She called the executive order 'unprecedented retaliation' against a law firm for representing political opponents. The Trump administration claimed Perkins Coie posed a national security risk due to its connection with Fusion GPS, the research firm behind the 2016 Russia dossier. But Judge Howell rejected that justification, citing Trump's public hostility toward the firm and the sweeping impact of the order — which affected everyone from attorneys to mailroom staff. Perkins Coie was the first law firm formally targeted under Trump's broader campaign against legal entities perceived as hostile. At least three other firms have challenged similar orders and received temporary injunctions. Howell's ruling is the first permanent block. Perkins Coie hailed the decision as a win for the rule of law and legal independence. 'This ruling affirms core constitutional freedoms,' the firm said in a statement. The Justice Department has not yet commented. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
