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LetMyPeopleVote

(179,686 posts) Tue Mar 3, 2026, 01:59 PM Mar 3

Trump, in Abrupt Reversal, Will Continue War on Law Firms

Source: Bloomberg Law

The Trump administration has changed its mind on its decision to walk away from appealing its loss in lawsuits over executive orders targeted at four Big Law firms.

The Justice Department on Tuesday afternoon moved to withdraw its motion to voluntarily dismiss the appeals of its cases against Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Susman Godfrey and Jenner & Block.

The motion comes after the Justice Department on Tuesday sent an email to the four law firms signaling it would file the motion to withdraw its voluntary dismissal of its appeal less than 24 hours after saying it would drop the fight, confirmed a person familiar with the emails. News of the reversal was first reported by the New York Times.

The law firms opposed the government’s filing, the DOJ said in its motion: “Plaintiffs-Appellees oppose the government’s unexplained request to withdraw yesterday’s voluntary dismissal, to which all parties had agreed. Under no circumstances should the government’s unexplained about-face provide a basis for an extension of its brief.”

However, the DOJ said that regardless of this position, the court had not yet granted the motion to dimiss and “it is the perogative of the Defendent-Appellants to purse this appeal.”

Read more: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/trump-signals-he-will-continue-court-war-on-targeted-law-firms

Link to tweet

11 replies

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Highlight:

Trump, in Abrupt Reversal, Will Continue War on Law Firms (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Mar 3 OP

"Somebody" got mad when they saw the news about no longer appealing. BumRushDaShow Mar 3 #1

Gee, I wonder who it was? Ray Bruns Mar 3 #3

Here is the motion filed by the DOJ seeking to reinstate appeal LetMyPeopleVote Mar 3 #2

What we have here... is a failure to communicate. And to plan ahead or look behind. erronis Mar 3 #4

In sudden reversal, Trump DOJ moves to revive retaliation cases against law firms LetMyPeopleVote Mar 3 #5

Just digging the hole he's in deeper. There is a colossal crash coming when Trump's crows all come home to roost. Martin68 Mar 3 #6

My bet: USCA DC grants motion to withdraw dismissal and then .. pat_k Mar 3 #7

It's like he is hate reading DU and reacting. Mr. Sparkle Mar 3 #8

While negotiations were going on with the law firms, Krasnov ordered the military to bomb them. Wonder Why Mar 3 #9

MaddowBlog-In a stunning reversal, Trump's Justice Department revives campaign against law firms LetMyPeopleVote Mar 3 #10

MaddowBlog-Trump reportedly directed DOJ to reverse course on case against defiant law firms LetMyPeopleVote Mar 13 #11

BumRushDaShow

(169,565 posts)

1. "Somebody" got mad when they saw the news about no longer appealing.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 02:06 PM

Mar 3

More taxpayer money used to carry out Waste. Fraud. Abuse.

Ray Bruns

(6,341 posts)

3. Gee, I wonder who it was?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #1)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 02:18 PM

Mar 3

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,686 posts)

2. Here is the motion filed by the DOJ seeking to reinstate appeal

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 02:16 PM

Mar 3

This motion made me smile

erronis

(23,838 posts)

4. What we have here... is a failure to communicate. And to plan ahead or look behind.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 02:29 PM

Mar 3

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,686 posts)

5. In sudden reversal, Trump DOJ moves to revive retaliation cases against law firms

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 03:03 PM

Mar 3

It is very uncommon to do this major of a reversal just before briefs were due. The DOJ's brief is due Friday.

Link to tweet

https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-doj-moves-to-revive-retaliation-cases-against-law-firms/

After abandoning its defense of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting major law firms, the Justice Department abruptly reversed itself Tuesday and asked a federal court to let it continue defending the retaliatory orders.

Just one day earlier, the Trump administration had moved to voluntarily dismiss its appeals in four cases challenging Trump’s orders sanctioning Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey. Lower court rulings found the orders unlawful and unconstitutional, concluding they were designed to punish the firms for representing clients and causes Trump opposed.....

The dismissal would have left intact blistering district court decisions warning that Trump’s actions threatened the country’s adversarial legal system — the foundational principle that everyone is entitled to representation, even against a sitting president.

But Tuesday, in a stunning reversal and without explanation, the DOJ filed a motion to withdraw its own dismissal and press forward with the appeals.

In plain terms, the administration is now trying to undo its decision to walk away — and instead keep fighting to reinstate the executive orders judges found unlawful.

All four firms swiftly opposed the Trump admin’s sudden reversal, urging the appeals court to reject the government’s attempt to withdraw its voluntary dismissal.

This will be fun to watch

Martin68

(27,705 posts)

6. Just digging the hole he's in deeper. There is a colossal crash coming when Trump's crows all come home to roost.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 03:42 PM

Mar 3

pat_k

(13,333 posts)

7. My bet: USCA DC grants motion to withdraw dismissal and then ..

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 03:48 PM

Mar 3

... when briefing is complete, issues an even more blistering condemnation of the government's arguments than the repudiations by the lower courts.

Mr. Sparkle

(3,706 posts)

8. It's like he is hate reading DU and reacting.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 04:01 PM

Mar 3

Wonder Why

(6,992 posts)

9. While negotiations were going on with the law firms, Krasnov ordered the military to bomb them.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 07:00 PM

Mar 3

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,686 posts)

10. MaddowBlog-In a stunning reversal, Trump's Justice Department revives campaign against law firms

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 08:28 PM

Mar 3

One day after the DOJ agreed to throw in the towel, it changed its mind and demanded the towel back.

In a stunning reversal, Trumpâ€™s Justice Department revives campaign against law firms
One day after the DOJ agreed to throw in the towel, it changed its mind and demanded the towel back.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
— Audrey (@parickards.bsky.social) 2026-03-03T22:31:15.573Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/in-a-stunning-reversal-trumps-justice-department-revives-campaign-against-law-firms

The victories for the quartet — Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey — looked even better this week when the Trump Justice Department announced plans to throw in the towel: Instead of appealing their earlier defeats, DOJ lawyers said they would abandon their defense of the president’s executive orders.

At least, that was the plan on Monday. On Tuesday morning, MS NOW, citing two sources familiar with the case, reported that the Justice Department had notified the four firms that it’s changed course and will proceed with the appeal after all. The New York Times had a related report:

The Trump administration indicated on Tuesday that it planned to renew its defense of executive orders that it had leveled against law firms, a sharp reversal a day after asking a court whether it could abandon the fight.

In a motion filed with the appeals court in the District of Columbia, where the cases are playing out, the Justice Department formally asked to withdraw its request on Monday to abandon the cases against four law firms.

So, to recap: First, the president tried to exercise greater control over the legal industry in a ridiculous power-grab, telling many of the nation’s largest firms that they would lose government contracts and security clearances unless they agreed to meet the White House’s demands. Four leading firms refused and filed suit.

A variety of judges from across the ideological spectrum ruled against Trump, concluding that the move was obviously illegal. Trump’s Justice Department decided there was no point in racking up another round of defeats, only to take the opposite position a day later without explanation.

“This withdrawal of the administration’s withdrawal is amateurish, and it does not change the likely outcome of the fight,” the Times’ editorial board explained. “Judges — appointed by presidents of both parties — have repeatedly ruled that the executive orders were illegal, and there is every reason to expect that to continue. The Trump administration’s initial withdrawal of its appeals is an indication that at least some officials understand this reality.”

As for the firms involved in the case, I spoke to a spokesperson at WilmerHale, who said the firms “oppose the government’s unexplained request to withdraw yesterday’s voluntary dismissal, to which all parties had agreed.” Watch this space.

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,686 posts)

11. MaddowBlog-Trump reportedly directed DOJ to reverse course on case against defiant law firms

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 06:35 PM

Mar 13

It seemed obvious that someone in a position of influence had intervened in the case, and that person was apparently, and predictably, the president.

â€œTrump reportedly directed DOJ to reverse course on case against defiant law firms
It seemed obvious that someone in a position of influence had intervened in the case, and that person was apparently, and predictably, the president.â€

Steve Benen
MS NOW
apple.news/Am6A9SAFkQim...
— Redeem the soul America (@rneagle.bsky.social) 2026-03-12T16:16:19.221Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-reportedly-directed-doj-to-reverse-course-on-case-against-defiant-law-firms

The victories for the quartet — Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Susman Godfrey — looked even better last week when the Trump Justice Department announced plans to throw in the towel: Instead of appealing their earlier defeats, DOJ lawyers said they would abandon their defense of the president’s executive orders.

One day later, federal prosecutors changed their mind, completed a 180-degree turn and notified the four firms that they would proceed with the appeal after all.

It seemed rather obvious from a distance that someone in a high position of influence had intervened in the matter, and according to the latest reporting from The Wall Street Journal, that person is exactly who most observers assumed it was.

The Justice Department’s surprise reversal last week on defending the White House’s sanctions against law firms came after an angry outburst by President Trump, according to people familiar with the matter.

After The Wall Street Journal reported on March 2 that the department was dropping its defense of executive orders that outlined punishments against specific law firms, Trump told advisers to stop it immediately, the people said.

.....The move opened the door to the administration extending a losing legal fight simply to make the president feel better — a variety of judges from across the ideological spectrum have already ruled against the White House in this case, concluding that the move was plainly illegal — though Trump evidently doesn’t much care......

To be sure, none of these developments was or is especially surprising. It’s been obvious for the past 14 months or so that the Justice Department has become an extension of the West Wing, and the reversal in the case against the defiant law firms reinforces the unmistakable pattern.

But the revelations add fresh weight to the broader indictment about Trump’s control over federal law enforcement.

A few weeks ago, Main Justice unfurled a giant banner featuring the president’s face on its facade. The move removed a pretense that no one took seriously anyway. As The Wall Street Journal summarized in November, this is a Justice Department in which the president, not the attorney general, “calls the shots.”

trump is a spoiled child and his feelings were hurt that the DOJ was not pursing his petty attempts to punish these law firms. There will be more rulings against the DOJ and trump to come.

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