Attorney General Charity Clark, along with 20 other attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in support of law firm Susman Godfrey, which is challenging a presidential executive order. This order was issued in retaliation against the firm for its role in representing clients related to the 2020 election and defending the election's integrity.
The order allegedly infringes on the firm’s constitutional rights, including free speech and due process. "President Donald Trump has issued five executive orders retaliating against law firms whose advocacy, clients, and staff he dislikes," reads the statement. These orders demand that federal officials suspend security clearances of the firms' employees, restrict engagement or hiring of their employees, and deny them entry to federal buildings. They also require federal contractors to disclose any business with the implicated law firms, potentially leading to contract terminations. Four courts have already deemed these orders likely unconstitutional.
Susman Godfrey, which has an office in Seattle, was targeted in one of these executive orders in April. The firm has successfully obtained temporary injunctive relief and is now requesting a permanent block of the order. A federal judge, in granting temporary relief, remarked, “The executive order is based on a personal vendetta against a particular firm. And, frankly, I think the framers of our Constitution would view it as a shocking abuse of power."
The attorneys general coalition emphasizes the importance of a functioning judicial system that allows lawyers to handle controversial cases or represent unpopular clients without government retaliation. They argue that these orders could hinder residents' access to legal services, particularly for those relying on pro bono work to defend their rights in court.