Attorney General Kwame Raoul is making a stand with a coalition of peers from 21 states, backing up Perkins Coie LLP, the Seattle-based law firm now in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump. An amicus brief was filed to rally against the president's March 6 executive order, which aims to clamp down on what he considers "dishonest and dangerous activity" by Perkins Coie, especially pointing at their 2016 legal work for Hillary Clinton.
Trump's move led swiftly to a court-issued temporary restraining order that currently halts enforcement of the executive order parts tussling with Perkins Coie's affairs, Raoul emphasized the stakes at play saying “In our country, clients have a right to legal representation regardless of their political party,” and adding “Consistent with this foundational principle, law firms should not be retaliated against simply because the president does not like their clients,” signaling his committed stance to defend the essential rights of individuals to legal counsel and for lawyers to do their due part without the heavy hand of politics weighing them down.
The brief argues that apart from the present political whirlwind, it's crucial to sustain an environment where clients are effectively represented, this ensuring just outcomes flowing from the courts, juries and judge's interpretations, and the order against Perkins Coie.
A brief filed in the U.S. District Court for D.C. warns that fear of backlash could deter lawyers from taking politically sensitive cases. Attorneys general from 19 states and D.C. argue this threatens legal ethics and justice.
