Washington, D.C. – May 27, 2025 — In a significant rebuke to executive overreach, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon ruled that a Trump-era executive order targeting the prominent law firm WilmerHale was unconstitutional. The decision underscores the judiciary’s role in upholding the independence of the legal profession and the constitutional rights of entities challenging governmental actions.
The case, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP v. Executive Office of the President, centered on an executive order issued during former President Donald Trump’s administration. The order sought to penalize law firms that had represented clients in litigation against the federal government, specifically aiming at WilmerHale for its involvement in several high-profile cases.
WilmerHale’s legal challenges included representing inspectors general alleging improper dismissals by President Trump, the House Ways and Means Committee in efforts to obtain Trump’s tax returns, and the Biden-Harris campaign in election-related litigation. The firm also had historical ties to Robert S. Mueller III, who led the Special Counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Judge Leon’s opinion emphasized the foundational principles of the American legal system, stating, “The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting.” He concluded that the executive order in question violated constitutional protections by attempting to punish a law firm for its choice of clients and cases.
