D.C. appeals court hears challenge to Trump executive orders targeting four law firms

Thursday, May 14, 2026U.S. PoliticsWell-covered4 frames

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments on the Trump administration's effort to reinstate executive orders targeting four law firms.
The four firms involved are Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey.
The executive orders sought penalties including canceling or limiting federal contracts, suspending or revoking lawyers' security clearances, and restricting firm personnel's access to federal buildings.
Multiple lower-court judges in Washington previously blocked the orders and ruled or found that the measures were unlawful or likely unconstitutional.
During the appeal, the Justice Department argued that the president's authority over security clearances is not subject to court review, while the firms argued the orders unlawfully retaliated against them for their clients, lawyers or legal work.
Coverage of the hearing said the appellate panel appeared skeptical of the administration's arguments and signaled a difficult path for restoring the orders.
The case could have broader consequences beyond the four firms because it tests the scope of presidential power and could affect the legal industry's independence and relationships with the federal government.
The appeals panel did not announce a decision at the hearing or say when it would rule.

How left and right are reading this

Both agree: Lower courts have already found the orders unlawful or likely unconstitutional, and the appeals hearing suggested real judicial concern that presidential tools like contracts, clearances, and building access cannot be used to punish law firms for their legal work.
They split on: Less a disagreement than a question of emphasis: the threat such orders pose to the legal industry's independence, versus the need to define how far judicial review can reach into presidential authority, especially over security clearances.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard arguments on the Trump administration's effort to reinstate executive orders targeting four law firms.
The four firms involved are Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey.
The executive orders sought penalties including canceling or limiting federal contracts, suspending or revoking lawyers' security clearances, and restricting firm personnel's access to federal buildings.
Multiple lower-court judges in Washington previously blocked the orders and ruled or found that the measures were unlawful or likely unconstitutional.
During the appeal, the Justice Department argued that the president's authority over security clearances is not subject to court review, while the firms argued the orders unlawfully retaliated against them for their clients, lawyers or legal work.
Coverage of the hearing said the appellate panel appeared skeptical of the administration's arguments and signaled a difficult path for restoring the orders.
The case could have broader consequences beyond the four firms because it tests the scope of presidential power and could affect the legal industry's independence and relationships with the federal government.
The appeals panel did not announce a decision at the hearing or say when it would rule.

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