Court Halts Trump’s Sanctions on Susman Godfrey Law Firm \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A federal judge has permanently blocked President Trump’s executive order targeting Susman Godfrey, ruling it unconstitutional. The order was linked to the firm’s defense of Dominion Voting Systems. This marks the latest in a string of court defeats for Trump’s legal retaliation efforts against law firms.
Quick Looks
- U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan blocks Trump’s order against Susman Godfrey.
- The firm was allegedly targeted for its representation of Dominion in a defamation suit.
- Similar orders against law firms like Jenner & Block and WilmerHale have been struck down.
- The judge called the orders unconstitutional, permanent injunction issued.
- Susman Godfrey hails the ruling as a “resounding victory for the rule of law.”
Deep Look
In a sweeping ruling that reaffirms core constitutional protections, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan on Friday permanently blocked a Trump administration executive order targeting Susman Godfrey, one of the country’s most prominent law firms. The decision adds to a growing judicial consensus that the president’s attempts to punish legal firms for representing disfavored clients or causes run afoul of the Constitution.
Judge AliKhan’s 43-page opinion framed the executive order as a direct assault on the right to legal representation, calling it part of a “pattern of politically retaliatory conduct” aimed at silencing dissent and dissuading legal advocacy on issues the administration finds politically sensitive. The judge concluded that the order violated multiple constitutional principles, including First Amendment rights to free speech and association, and Fifth Amendment guarantees of due process.
At the heart of the case is Susman Godfrey’s role as legal counsel to Dominion Voting Systems during its high-profile defamation lawsuit against Fox News—a case that ended in a historic $787.5 million settlement. That lawsuit, filed in the wake of the 2020 election, became emblematic of efforts to challenge false election narratives promoted by Trump allies. The firm’s involvement placed it squarely in the administration’s crosshairs, triggering an executive order that sought to revoke security clearances, deny access to federal properties, and bar participation in federal contracts.
Judge AliKhan’s ruling comes after similar orders were struck down in recent months targeting Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Perkins Coie—all law firms with ties to Democratic causes or Trump critics. In each case, courts found the administration had overstepped its executive authority, attempting to punish private legal actors for engaging in constitutionally protected conduct.
The AliKhan ruling emphasized that legal representation is not a political act—and punishing a firm for defending a client, regardless of the controversy surrounding the case, is antithetical to the rule of law.
“Every court to have considered a challenge to one of these orders has found grave constitutional violations,” AliKhan wrote. “This court follows suit, concluding that the order targeting Susman violates the U.S. Constitution and must be permanently enjoined.”
Susman Godfrey, in a statement released shortly after the ruling, called the outcome “a resounding victory for the rule of law.” The firm emphasized its dedication to representing clients “without regard to their political or other beliefs,” and expressed hope that the ruling would “set a national precedent for protecting legal independence.”
Beyond the courtroom, the ruling has significant political reverberations. President Trump has framed his actions as part of a broader campaign to “drain the swamp” and hold what he describes as a partisan legal establishment accountable. His administration argued that law firms involved in litigation against conservative interests should not receive the privileges of federal access or government business. The orders were crafted under the guise of “government integrity” and “contractor ethics”—language the court dismissed as a thin pretext for retaliation.
Perhaps more troubling to critics is that some law firms, rather than challenge the orders in court, chose to settle with the government, agreeing to perform large volumes of pro bono legal work in areas aligned with administration priorities—effectively treating legal neutrality as a bargaining chip. This growing trend has alarmed legal ethicists who warn of a chilling effect on firms’ willingness to represent politically unpopular clients.
AliKhan’s ruling pushes back forcefully against that chilling effect. Legal scholars praised the decision as a potential landmark case for legal independence, particularly in a time of deep national polarization. It reasserts the principle that lawyers must be free to represent their clients without government interference or fear of political retribution.
The judgment also strengthens the role of the federal judiciary as a check on executive overreach—especially when it comes to civil liberties. “This is a high-water mark in reaffirming the rule of law over political intimidation,” said one legal analyst. “It protects not just law firms, but every American’s right to be represented, even in the most controversial cases.”
The ruling arrives at a time when the boundaries of executive power are once again being tested. With President Trump continuing to expand the scope of his “government efficiency” agenda—and facing legal scrutiny on multiple fronts—the courts appear increasingly positioned as the last line of defense against politicized uses of state power.
For Susman Godfrey, the outcome allows the firm to continue its work without the looming threat of federal sanction. For the broader legal community, it sends an unambiguous message: that the right to counsel, the right to speak, and the right to serve clients—even unpopular ones—remain protected pillars of American democracy.
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