New York Attorney General Letitia James has aligned with a group of 20 attorneys general in submitting amicus briefs to support law firms targeted by recent Executive Orders from the Trump administration. The orders imposed sanctions on law firms Jenner & Block LLP and WilmerHale LLP, allegedly as retribution for advocacy that was not favored by the Trump administration. These sanctions are being challenged by the law firms in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Attorney General James, in collaboration with her counterparts, has criticized the Executive Orders as violating constitutional rights. The attorneys general argue that these actions infringe on the First Amendment, as well as the right to legal counsel, and disrupt established constitutional principles like the separation of powers. James stated, “Targeting and sanctioning law firms for representing clients that the president disagrees with is unconstitutional and undemocratic.”
The contested Executive Orders directly impact the law firms by instructing federal officials to suspend security clearances for their personnel, avoid engaging with employees from these firms, and prevent their entry into federal buildings. Additionally, federal contractors are directed to disclose any business dealings with the firms, allowing agencies to terminate contracts accordingly.
The coalition of attorneys general has described these measures as an abuse of power that endangers legal processes by deterring lawyers from taking on controversial cases or representing unpopular clients. They assert that such government actions complicate access to legal representation, particularly for clients dependent on pro bono services.
These legal challenges comprise part of Attorney General James’s ongoing efforts to defend the legal profession against actions from the Trump administration deemed unconstitutional. Last month, Attorney General James also filed a supporting brief for the law firm Perkins Coie LLP.
The joint initiative involves attorneys general from multiple states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and others, as well as the District of Columbia.