28 May 2025

Judge Strikes Down DJT Executive Order Targeting Law Firm WilmerHale

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Federal District Court Judge Richard Leon issued a permanent injunction that torched Donald Trump’s executive order that targeted major law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, commonly known as WilmerHale, for retribution.

Leon’s ruling began with:

The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting. The Founding Fathers knew this! Accordingly, they took pains to enshrine in the Constitution certain rights that would serve as the foundation for that independence. Little wonder that in the nearly 250 years since the Constitution was adopted no Executive Order has been issued challenging these fundamental rights. Now, however, several Executive Orders have been issued directly challenging these rights and that independence. One of these Orders is the subject of this case. For the reasons set forth below, I have concluded that this Order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional. Indeed, to rule otherwise would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers! 

The 73 page ruling is spicy and vociferously outraged by Trump’s use of the Presidency for petty retribution. WilmerHale was the employer of Robert Mueller, who stepped out to serve as Special Counsel investigating the issue of Russia interference with the 2016 Presidential election oh Trump’s behalf. Mueller returned to WilmerHale after that investigation.

WilmerHale also represented Democrats opposing Trump’s numerous legal challenges to the 2020 election, Congressional lawmakers trying to gain visibility into his tax records, Inspectors General who sued Trump over their abrupt firings early in his current term of office, and others.

In his ruling, Leon said the executive order is obviously “motivated by the president’s desire to retaliate against WilmerHale for its protected activity” which is “not a legitimate government interest, and the order’s unsupported assertion of national security will not save it!”

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