Attorney General Kwame Raoul has co-led an open letter to the legal community, criticizing several major law firms for yielding to the Trump administration's attacks on the rule of law. Raoul claims some firms have agreed to offer free legal services supporting the administration's goals.
"President Trump’s unlawful threats undermine the democratic principles upon which our nation was founded," Raoul stated. "Law firms that capitulate to these threats become complicit in the administration’s continued efforts to undercut the judicial process, which depends on the rights to free speech, effective counsel, and due process. I am proud to stand with the many lawyers who have shown courage in the face of these unconstitutional attacks, and I call on all of my colleagues in the legal community to join us."
According to Raoul and the coalition, President Trump has targeted several law firms through unconstitutional executive orders for associating with political opponents or expressing viewpoints the administration disfavors. They argue that these orders retaliate against protected speech and association and violate basic due process and rule-of-law principles.
The letter also notes that law firms Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey have legally challenged the administration and succeeded in temporarily blocking the executive orders.
Raoul and the coalition urge additional firms and lawyers to join their fight against what they describe as unconstitutional orders, emphasizing the necessity of preserving the integrity of the United States’ legal system. Raoul has introduced previous initiatives supporting legal challenges to similar executive actions.
Raoul is collaborating with attorneys general from Colorado, Delaware, and New Jersey. The coalition also includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.