As Donald Trump escalates efforts to punish law firms involved in cases against him, several former U.S. solicitors general — including Donald Verrilli, Paul Clement, and Elizabeth Prelogar — are stepping in to challenge his executive orders. These orders strip targeted firms of federal contracts and bar their lawyers from interacting with government agencies. Framing the moves as a threat to judicial independence and the rule of law, these high-profile legal figures are taking a rare stand in defense of the profession itself, warning of constitutional overreach and the erosion of norms in the legal system.