Perkins Coie LLP v. U.S. Department of Justice — Law Firm Sanctions (DC)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
In This Resource
Early in his second term, President Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting law firms that were associated with his political rivals. The orders sought to strip attorneys of security clearances, restrict their access to federal buildings, cancel contracts between the firms and the federal government, and more.
Some firms targeted by the orders struck deals with the Trump administration to avoid sanctions. Others refused and sued the administration instead.
The four firms that sued—Perkins Coie LLP, Jenner & Block LLP, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey LLP—each won in district court. Judges repeatedly found that the executive orders were unconstitutional.
The Justice Department appealed those cases, and the court consolidated them for purposes of the appeal.
On April 3, 2026, a group of 18 university professors and scholars filed an amicus brief in the consolidated appeal, arguing that Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms are a symptom of a weakening democracy and threaten the rule of law.
The brief draws parallels between the orders and tactics commonly used by governments in autocracies or backsliding democracies.
Leaders in those nations have targeted the legal profession to stifle their opposition, weaken their political opponents, and consolidate power; similar patterns are emerging in the U.S., the group explains.
The group urges the court to uphold the lower courts’ rulings blocking the executive orders. “[D]emocracies require legal organizations and lawyers insulated from political pressure and a strong and independent judiciary to stand firm and faithfully apply the law,” they conclude.
Oral arguments are scheduled for May 14, 2026.
- Amicus brief (filed April 3, 2026)
- Complaint (filed March 11, 2025)
- Reuters: Law firms targeted by Trump ask court to uphold rulings blocking executive orders (March 27, 2026)
- The Associated Press: After abandoning law firm executive orders, Trump administration reverses course and pursues fight (March 3, 2026)
- The New York Times: Trump’s Order Targeting Law Firm Perkins Coie Is Unconstitutional, Judge Rules (May 2, 2025)
- NPR: Judge accuses Trump administration of trying to undermine judiciary (March 27, 2025)