Trump Has No Business Telling Law Firms Who They Can Represent

In the two months since Donald Trump has returned to the White House, his administration has seen fit to act against its enemies - real and imagined - in all areas of public life especially where it concerns the law.

When one goes after the rule of law, one is bound to target law firms.

Before I go further, as some of you may know, I work in a law firm although my direct employer is one of its vendors. 

I find it profoundly disturbing that President Trump has seen fit to target law firms because he doesn't like some of their clients.

Most notably, the Trump Administration saw fit to go after Covington & Burling for representing former Special Prosecutor Jack Smith by stripping some of their attorneys of security clearances. He went further with Perkins Coie for representing Hillary Clinton which barred the firm from working on federal cases, representing federal contractors or even accessing federal buildings. 

Perkins Coie fought back, and D.C. District Court judge Beryl Howell blocked much of the order. Not surprisingly, the Trump DoJ wants her off the case because she won't rule their way.

Trump also went after Paul Hastings. However, unlike Perkins Coie, Paul Hastings didn't challenge the executive order in court. They bent the knee are now providing the Trump Administration pro bono legal services to the tune of $40 million while abolishing any DEI initiatives at the firm. 

This surrender on the part of Paul Hastings will embolden Trump to go after more law firms in the hope of more shakedowns. 

Quite frankly, Paul Hastings should have told Trump, "See you in court!!!"

President Trump has no business telling law firms who they can represent. 

My hope is that law firms targeted by Trump combine their resources and fight back the way they know best - in court. 

These firms must set aside any proprietary matters because the very independence of American jurisprudence is at stake.