On August 22, 2025, former President Donald Trump’s administration filed an appeal to revive an executive order targeting prominent litigation firm Susman Godfrey. The order, previously struck down by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan, had suspended the firm’s security clearances and restricted its federal access, which the court found violated constitutional protections of free speech and due process.
The executive order was part of a broader effort by Trump against major law firms, including Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale, accusing them of “weaponizing” the legal system. Susman Godfrey, which represents Dominion Voting Systems in election-related litigation, described the order as political retaliation for its defense of the 2020 election’s integrity.
The appeal now joins three other pending challenges at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, raising high-stakes questions about executive power, the independence of the bar, and the rule of law.