In a significant legal victory, a federal judge, Beryl Howell, has permanently invalidated Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie, which had worked with Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. Howell’s 102-page ruling criticized every aspect of the order, deeming it unconstitutional and unlawful. This ruling sets a precedent for other judges handling similar cases involving law firms targeted by executive orders.

Howell determined that the executive order violated the first, fifth, and sixth amendments, leading to its permanent prohibition. She raised concerns about the chilling effect on law firms that may opt to cooperate with the Trump administration to avoid being targeted themselves, highlighting the broader implications of such actions.

The executive order aimed at Perkins Coie, labeling the firm a national security risk due to its past association with Fusion GPS on behalf of the Clinton campaign, was met with strong opposition from Howell. She dismissed the administration’s claims as retaliatory, citing the order’s sweeping restrictions on everyone associated with the firm as evidence.

Furthermore, Howell criticized the order’s requirement for private companies with government contracts to disclose any past work with Perkins Coie, regardless of relevance. This, she argued, infringed on firms’ first amendment rights and was excessively broad.

Despite the ruling, the Trump administration is expected to appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. The case underscores the importance of legal safeguards against executive overreach and the defense of constitutional rights in the face of political targeting.