Bloomberg Law
Law Firm Wins Against Trump & Harvard Threatened
May 7, 2025
Matthew Diller, a Fordham Law Professor, discusses a judge's ruling that declared President Trump's executive order against Perkins Coie unconstitutional, highlighting threats to judicial independence. Timothy Zick from William & Mary Law analyzes the Third Circuit's decision that teaching Islam does not breach the Establishment Clause, sparking a broader conversation about religious education. Meanwhile, George Yin, Emeritus Professor at UVA, tackles the Trump administration's threats to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, raising concerns over political influence on legal frameworks.
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Quick takeaways
- A federal judge deemed President Trump's executive order against Perkins Coie unconstitutional, reinforcing the principle of judicial independence against executive overreach.
- The ruling emphasized the importance of due process and clarified that vague national security claims cannot justify broad punitive actions against law firms.
Deep dives
Unconstitutional Targeting of Law Firms
A federal judge ruled against an executive order from President Trump that targeted the law firm Perkins Coie, deeming it unconstitutional. The judge highlighted that the order was an unprecedented attack on the judiciary, violating First Amendment rights by penalizing the firm for its political associations and activities, particularly its representation of Democratic clients. The ruling emphasized that the constitutional right to associate freely is fundamental, and the executive branch cannot retaliate against firms based on their political affiliations. This decision is significant as it asserts the independence of the judiciary against executive overreach.
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