A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Trump's executive order targeting a D.C. law firm on March 11, 2025. Deeming the order a violation of the First Amendment and retaliatory in nature, he invoked Lewis Carroll while blocking certain parts of Trump's March 6 order.
Holding a Grudge
In his executive order, Trump declared that the law firm of Perkins Coie had affected the country for decades with its "dishonest and dangerous" activity. He accused Perkins Coie of working to overturn popular, necessary, and democratically enacted election laws. He also classified their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies as discriminatory.
The executive order essentially banned government contracts, barred Perkins Coie employees from entering government buildings, revoked all security clearances, and ordered the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to conduct a study into the firm's hiring processes.
The speculation is that Trump targeted Perkins Coie in retaliation for their work against him in the past. Perkins Coie represented Hillary Clinton during her 2016 campaign. He also issued an executive order singling out Covington & Burling LLP for similar allegedly punitive measures. Covington & Burling worked with Special Counsel Jack Smith in bringing charges against Trump.
"Who's Been Painting My Roses Red?"
In granting the partial TRO, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell expressed a degree of alarm at the undertones of Trump's order, saying "The chilling effect of this executive order threatens to undermine our entire legal system and the ability of all individuals to access justice in the American judicial system. The public interest therefore demands that the TRO be issued to protect the integrity of the judicial system."
Attorneys representing Perkins Coie stated that the provisions dictated by the order would put the firm out of business. Between attorneys and support staff, Perkins Coie has around 2,700 employees.
Howell compared the executive order to something from a Lewis Carroll novel: "This may be amusing in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ where the Queen of Hearts yells, ‘Off with their heads!’ at annoying subjects and announces a sentence before a verdict. But this cannot be the reality we are living under."
Arguing for the White House, Department of Justice Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle attempted to convince the court that the order wasn't engaging in viewpoint discrimination. He dismissed claims that the firm's employees would be banned from government buildings as akin to "ghosts" and "boogeymen."
A Drama Worthy of the Paper Chase
The TRO granted by Judge Howell lifts the ban on government contracts and allows Perkins Coie employees to enter federal buildings. It did not address returning security clearances or halting the proposed EEOC investigation.
Trump's attacks on the legal industry are getting curiouser and curiouser.
Related Resources
- Can an Executive Order Close Down the Department of Education? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- What Is Government Contracts Law? (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Filing Discrimination Charges With the EEOC (FindLaw's Know Your Legal Rights and Civil Protections)
