Federal Judge Beryl Howell has decided to temporarily block President Donald Trump’s recent restrictions on law firm Perkins Coie, which represented Hillary Clinton during her unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. Trump’s March 6 executive order directed federal agencies to sever contracts with Perkins Coie, limit access for its lawyers to federal buildings and employees, and halt security clearances for the firm’s employees. The order alleged that the firm engaged Fusion GPS to compile a dossier critical of Trump while representing Clinton and discriminated in hiring based on race. Judge Howell announced the temporary restraining order during a hearing pending a resolution of the firm’s legal challenge.

In response, Perkins Coie accused Trump of attempting to dismantle the firm over a small portion of its work, asserting that the order’s true aim is to obliterate the firm altogether. The firm warned of dire consequences should the order persist, emphasizing the potential chilling effect on advocacy for clients who are unpopular with the President. Perkins Coie’s legal action contends that the order’s impact extends beyond the firm itself, affecting broader legal advocacy efforts. The ongoing legal battle highlights the clash between the administration’s attempt to restrict the firm’s activities and the firm’s defense of its role in representing clients. The outcome of this legal conflict will likely have implications not only for Perkins Coie but also for legal advocacy and representation in the broader context.