Federal appeals court probes Trump's targeting of law firms
Key takeaways
- Sharp questions were asked of both the law firms and the Justice Department by a three-judge panel on the U.S.
- A slate of federal judges in Washington have rejected the orders as unlawful.
- DOJ lawyer Abhishek Kambli said Thursday that the law firms commercial association is not constitutionally protected conduct, including the lawyers they hire.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
Link copied by Ella Lee - 05/14/26 1:19 PM ET Link copied NOW PLAYING A federal appeals court panel on Thursday scrutinized President Trump s executive orders targeting several of the nation s top law firms, which claim they were retaliated against for representing his political adversaries.
Sharp questions were asked of both the law firms and the Justice Department by a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that sought to determine whether Trump acted within his authority by clamping down on law firms Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey.
A slate of federal judges in Washington have rejected the orders as unlawful. Trump s directives sought to undercut each law firm s business by limiting government contracts, in addition to employees security clearances and their access to government buildings.