A federal judge on Friday was like, “Nah, Trump, you can’t do that,” and struck down his executive order targeting Perkins Coie, a law firm. The judge, Beryl Howell, was appointed by Obama and she was not having it. She said Trump’s order was basically attacking the judicial system, which is a big no-no. She even quoted Shakespeare to make her point. So dramatic, right?
Now, why did Trump target Perkins Coie in the first place? Well, they represented Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and worked with George Soros, a billionaire donor. Trump’s order was trying to limit their access to government buildings, revoke security clearances, and make federal agencies cut ties with them. Pretty harsh, if you ask me.
But Judge Howell wasn’t having any of it. She said Trump’s order was unconstitutional and basically told him, “Nice try, buddy, but not on my watch.” Perkins Coie was like, “Phew, thanks, judge,” and praised the ruling for protecting their rights to free speech and due process. The Justice Department didn’t have much to say about it, though. Probably licking their wounds.
Oh, and get this—Trump has been targeting a bunch of law firms with these executive orders. Some caved and made deals with the White House to avoid the same fate as Perkins Coie. But Judge Howell wasn’t impressed. She called out those firms for not standing their ground and basically selling out. Ouch.
In her ruling, Judge Howell pointed out Trump’s history of publicly attacking Perkins Coie and his threats during the 2024 campaign. She said his order was just retaliation for the firm representing clients he didn’t like. Talk about holding a grudge, right? She basically told Trump, “Nice try, but I see right through you.”
All in all, it was a big win for Perkins Coie and a slap on the wrist for Trump. Maybe he’ll think twice before trying something like this again. But who knows with that guy, right? At least Judge Howell was there to set him straight. Not really sure why this matters, but hey, it’s the news. Gotta report on it.
So, there you have it. Trump’s executive order targeting Perkins Coie was a bust, thanks to Judge Howell. The law firm can breathe easy now, knowing they have the law on their side. Just another day in the wild world of politics and legal battles. Who knows what will happen next? But for now, Perkins Coie can rest easy knowing justice was served.
