US appeals court to hear Trump's bid to punish major law firms

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

May 14, 2026 6:04 AM EDT Updated 1 hour ago


WASHINGTON, May 14 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday will ask a federal ‌appeals court to reinstate the Republican leader’s executive orders punishing four major U.S. law firms, testing the scope of presidential power after judges in Washington resoundingly rejected the measures as unlawful.

The hearing before the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the District ​of Columbia Circuit at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (1330 GMT) will include two Democratic-appointed judges and one Republican-appointed judge, ​a composition that could signal a difficult path for the government.

The targeted law firms — ⁠Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey — each won sweeping victories in the lower federal court, where four ​Democratic- and Republican-appointed judges last year separately found Trump's executive orders violated free-speech and other provisions of the ​U.S. Constitution. Trump’s orders cited the law firms' past legal work, diversity policies and political ties. The orders were part of a broader campaign led by the president since the start of his second term targeting his perceived enemies.

The executive orders sought to bar the ​four firms’ lawyers from accessing federal buildings and to terminate U.S. government contracts held by their clients. The ​firms have denied any wrongdoing. The Trump administration appealed after the firms won orders permanently blocking the measures. Former Republican-appointed U.S. ‌Solicitor General ⁠Paul Clement will argue for the law firms. He will face off against Justice Department lawyer Abhishek Kambli.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-appeals-court-hear-trumps-bid-punish-major-law-firms-2026-05-14/

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