California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with 20 other state attorneys general, has filed amicus briefs in support of WilmerHale and Jenner & Block. These law firms are currently involved in lawsuits against the Trump Administration's executive orders. The orders are seen as targeting law firms representing clients or positions opposed by the Administration.
Attorney General Bonta expressed concern over these actions, stating, "The Trump Administration’s disregard for the First Amendment and disrespect for foundational tenets of American democracy is egregious and alarming." He further commended the law firms for their resistance against what he called unconstitutional demands.
The amicus briefs argue that the executive orders violate the First Amendment and the right to counsel under the First and Sixth Amendments, significantly undermining the rule of law. The briefs support motions for summary judgment to stop these actions permanently.
Attorney General Bonta has been vocal in criticizing what he perceives as President Trump’s disregard for the rule of law. He, with other attorneys general, previously issued an open letter calling on the legal community to defend the rule of law amidst such attacks. Bonta has also supported Perkins Coie, another law firm that faced retaliation following its work with Hillary Clinton and its diversity policies.
The California Attorney General is joined in this effort by the attorneys general of Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
A copy of the brief supporting WilmerHale is available here. A copy of the brief supporting Jenner & Block is available here.