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“They’re all bending and saying, ‘Sir, thank you very much,’” Mr. Trump said, adding that they were asking, “‘Where do I sign? Where do I sign?’”
Jenner & Block, WilmerHale both file complaints, and both are granted temporary restraining orders by the close of business the same day.
The Sheep are Separating from the Goats
There are reports that Skadden Arps is about to do a deal with Trump along the lines of the Paul Weiss capitulation. I am feeling nauseous. But all is far from lost.
Jenner & Block is a large, Chicago-based firm with a number of offices. It is among the top 100 American firms in profit per partner. It heavily emphasizes litigation, including a serious amount of pro bono work—much of it for organizations Trump does not like.
When the firm got in Trump’s cross hairs, it responded, in words or substance, “Fuck You Very Much.”
The firm’s statement of today reads,
Today, Jenner & Block filed a lawsuit to stop an unconstitutional executive order that has already been declared unlawful by a federal court. We expect to prevail quickly.For more than 100 years, Jenner has stood firm and tirelessly advocated for our clients against all adversaries, including against unlawful government action. We once again go to court to do just that. To do otherwise would mean compromising our ability to zealously advocate for all of our clients and capitulating to unconstitutional government coercion, which is simply not in our DNA.
Jenner & Block’s complaint, filed on its behalf by Cooley LLP, is 64 pages long and alleges 13 constitutional violations.
WilmerHale is the union of the old DC-based Wilmer Cutler & Pickering and the old Boston-based Hale and Dorr. It has 1000+ lawyers, and is particularly prominent in litigation. It was recently ranked as number 31 among American law firms.
To represent the firm, WilmerHale retained renowed conservative attorney Paul Clement, of whom Wikipedia notes,
During his career, Clement has argued cases on behalf of many conservative causes, such as opposing gun control;[4][5] defending a ban on federal recognition of same-sex marriage;[6][7]advocating to enjoin the Affordable Care Act;[8][9] defending Republican gerrymandering in North Carolina;[10] and, as Acting Solicitor General, defending the Controlled Substances Act under the Commerce Clause,[11] as well as the Bush administration’s treatment of terrorism suspects.
Mr. Clement’s complaint on behalf of WilmerHale runs to 57 pages, describes in great detail the eleven constitutional violations of his client’s rights, and is a masterpiece.
Also worthy of praise is the brief in support of a temporary restraining order by Williams and Connolly, on behalf of Perkins Coie. Follow the links and read ‘em both.
Facing MAGA 