Attorney General Nick Brown of Washington state has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing amicus briefs to challenge what they deem unconstitutional executive orders by President Donald Trump. According to a press release from Brown's office, these orders single out law firms for their political stances and advocacy efforts, thereby threatening the concept of a "fair and functioning judicial system." Brown emphasizes the risk these orders pose, stating, "The president’s actions could cause attorneys to avoid making certain legal claims or taking cases to avoid retribution."
The executive orders in question reportedly retaliate against law firms by suspending federal officials' security clearances, refusing to engage with or even to hire employees from these firms, and denying them entry to federal buildings. These actions are a response to the firms’ advocacy and representation that the Trump administration finds objectionable. Federal contractors are also directed to disclose any business they have with the targeted law firms, which could lead to the termination of contracts, as per the Office of the Attorney General. The implications of these orders sparked temporary injunctive relief from two U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia cases, with the law firms involved now seeking to permanently block the orders.
In the coalition’s briefs, the attorneys general underscore the potential impact on their states' residents, arguing that the executive orders could result in fewer legal services available, particularly to those in need of pro bono representation. "These illegal executive orders aimed at specific law firms are an attack on the rule of law," Brown said in an official statement. The coalition, fronted by the attorneys general from Washington, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont, all banding together to support the plight of the law firms against the government's retaliatory measures.
