KQED's Forum To Fold or Fight: Law Firms Weigh Risks of Trump Resistance
Apr 3, 2025
Lori Carr Mims, managing partner at Keker Van Nest & Peters, shares insights on representing asylum seekers while combating the Trump administration's tactics. Investigative reporter Jessica Silver-Greenberg discusses how law firms are pressured under executive orders, raising constitutional alarm. Former associate Rachel Cohen reveals her protest against the collaboration of Skadden with Trump, highlighting internal dissent within firms. Professor Raymond Brescia analyzes the broader implications for democracy and the legal profession's integrity in these trying times.
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Kecker's Stance
- Kecker Van Nest & Peters publicly supported firms targeted by Trump's executive orders.
- They voiced support for Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss, seeing the orders as unconstitutional attacks.
Kecker's Immigration Work
- Kecker Van Nest & Peters, known for pro bono immigration work, faces potential targeting by the Trump administration.
- They represent asylum seekers and actively litigate against Trump's immigration policies.
Impact of Concessions
- Law firms' concessions to Trump's demands set a negative precedent for citizens' rights.
- If lawyers won't fight for their rights, ordinary citizens may lose faith in using courts to protect theirs.