Judge Strikes Down Trump's Executive Order Targeting WilmerHale as Unconstitutional

A federal judge in Washington ruled that Executive Order 14250, which suspended security clearances for lawyers at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, terminated the firm's federal contracts and restricted its access to government buildings, was unconstitutional. Judge Richard J. Leon granted the firm summary judgment on eight of eleven claims, finding violations of the First, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, holding that the order exceeded presidential authority, and directing agencies to reverse steps already taken against the firm. The order had been issued on 2025-03-27 and cited the firm's past association with Robert Mueller and members of his investigative team.

The ruling matters because it establishes that the executive branch cannot use contracting and clearance powers to punish a law firm for the clients it has represented or the lawyers it has employed. WilmerHale was one of four firms that chose litigation over settlement while at least nine others agreed to pro bono commitments to avoid or lift similar orders; every firm that litigated has so far prevailed at the trial level.

The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal on 2025-07-28. The D.C. Circuit heard argument on 2026-05-14 jointly with the appeals in the Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey cases, which remained pending as of August 2026.