Judge Rules Trump’s Order Against WilmerHale Law Firm Unconstitutional

WilmerHale hailed the ruling as a win for constitutional rights, while the White House argued clearance decisions lie outside judicial review.

A man outside of the law firm WilmerHale in Washington on Aug. 30, 2020. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

A federal judge on May 27 struck down an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that was partly aimed at suspending security clearances for lawyers at WilmerHale, ruling it unconstitutional.

In a 73-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon stated that Trump’s order violated the firm’s rights to free speech and due process, noting that the order uses sanctions and other forms of “coercion” to suppress WilmerHale’s “representation of disfavored causes and clients.”