This news should alarm any rational lawyer. Donald Trump has issued an Executive Order punishing Perkins Coie, the law firm that represented Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign.
The EO does the following:
- Directs federal agencies to identify and terminate, where legally permissible, contracts with Perkins Coie.
- Requires government contractors to disclose any business dealings with the firm.
- Mandates the suspension of any active security clearances held by individuals at Perkins Coie.
- Instructs the EEOC to review the diversity, equity, and inclusion practices of major law firms, including Perkins Coie, to ensure compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
- Limits official access to federal government buildings for Perkins Coie employees.
- Advises government employees to restrict official engagements with Perkins Coie or its attorneys.
“This is an absolute honor to sign,” Trump said from the Oval Office. I call it a horror show.
In response, the firm says that the EO “is patently unlawful, and we intend to challenge it.”
Lawyers and law firms should never fear persecution from the President of the United States for simply doing their jobs. The rule of law depends on attorneys being able to zealously represent their clients—whether they are Democrats, Republicans, corporations, or individuals—without political retribution. A functioning democracy requires an independent legal profession, free from government intimidation. If lawyers can be punished for representing disfavored clients, our entire justice system, our rule of law, and our very Constitution are all at risk.
Here’s what I read this week that you should read, too.
Are DEI programs good or bad for business? Do they only help women and minorities? — via Drew Capuder’s Employment Law Blog
