A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from enforcing key provisions of an executive order targeting prominent law firm Susman Godfrey.
The ruling means that for now, the administration cannot proceed with directives aimed at severing the firm’s access to federal buildings and reviewing and terminating its government contracts.
The president’s order suspended security clearances held by Susman Godfrey employees and barred government agencies from hiring current employees of the firm unless they get permission. Susman’s contracts with the government were also terminated.
“I have determined that action is necessary to address the significant risks, egregious conduct, and conflicts of interest associated with Susman Godfrey,” the president wrote in the order, which was part of a broader campaign by Trump against law firms he accused of such practices.
Susman Godfrey alleged that Trump’s order was intended to punish the firm for its legal advocacy, including high-profile litigation on behalf of Dominion Voting Systems and state election officials against those who questioned the 2020 election results.
Trump’s order “blatantly violates due process and equal protection principles, including by imposing severe consequences without notice or any opportunity to be heard; using vague language that does not inform Susman or its clients of what conduct gave rise to the Order’s unprecedented sanctions and how those sanctions apply; and singling out Susman based on its representation of disfavored clients and advocacy of disfavored causes,” states the law firm’s memorandum in support of its request for a temporary restraining order.
Susman also alleged that Trump’s order violates its clients’ Fifth Amendment right to counsel, undermines judicial independence, and runs counter to the principle of separation of powers.
“Susman will suffer irreparable harm absent immediate relief, both because the ongoing violation of its constitutional rights is irreparable and because the Order sets out to tarnish Susman’s reputation, permanently damage its relationships with clients, and inflict economic harm,” the law firm wrote.
The court appeared to agree—at least for now, according to the court’s minute entry. The text of AliKhan’s ruling has not yet been released in full.
The ruling came after oral arguments from both sides during an emergency hearing in Washington.
The Department of Justice, which represented the Trump administration in the case, has been ordered to file a status report by April 16 detailing steps taken to comply with the injunction. A joint status report outlining a proposed briefing schedule is also due the same day.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment and whether it intends to appeal.
