Wilmerhale welcomed the ruling as a victory in constitutional rights, and the White House argued that the clearance decision was beyond judicial review.
On Tuesday, a federal judge broke President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at suspending security clearance for Wilmer Hale’s lawyers, deeming unconstitutional.
“Order screams through the bull. If you take on the cause of your disliked President Trump, you will be punished!” Leon wrote. “Other companies facing similar executive orders are surrendering to President Trump.”
The judge’s move follows Trump’s issuance of multiple executive orders targeting major law firms.
“Mueller’s investigation represents the weaponization of the government, but he argued that Wilmerhale “embodies the highest value of our company and profession,” the order said. “This weaponization of the judicial system should not be rewarded, let alone tolerated.”
The order directs all enforcement departments and agencies to suspend security clearances for whom in Will Melhale, as long as the law allows, while those clearances were reviewed to confirm whether they were consistent with national interests.
Wilmer Hale filed a lawsuit on March 28, alleging that Trump’s order violated the company’s initial right to amend and its legitimate process rights. The law firm praised Leon’s decision on May 27th.
“The court’s decision to permanently block an entire illegal executive order strongly supports our fundamental constitutional rights and our clients’ rights,” he said in an emailed statement to the Epoch Times. “We are proud to protect our company, our people and our clients.”
White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in a statement that Trump acted within his power by revoking the security clearance of the company’s lawyers.
Fields stressed that considering a presidential clearance decision is “outside the scope of judicial powers.”
Trump’s order also said Wilmer Hale used pro bono practices to support efforts designed to allow non-citizens to vote, discriminating against employees based on race.
The order also directed federal agencies to terminate their contracts with the law firm and to restrict employees’ access to government buildings.
The nine law firms have reached a deal with Trump, which includes offering free legal services worth hundreds of millions of dollars, loosely defined for mutually supported causes.
The Department of Justice may appeal Leon’s order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Reuters contributed to this report.
