AP Photo/Ben Curtis
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
A United States district judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s executive order against Houston-based law firm Susman Godfrey is unconstitutional.
“The order was one in a series attacking firms that had taken positions with which President Trump disagreed,” Judge Loren AliKhan wrote in her opinion. “In the ensuing months, every court to have considered a challenge to one of these orders has found grave constitutional violations. … Today, this court follows suit, concluding that the order targeting Susman violated the U.S. Constitution and must be permanently enjoined.”
The order would have directed federal agencies to terminate contracts with the firm that “engages in activities detrimental to critical American interests,” the order states. It also would have suspended Susman Godfrey employees from receiving security clearances to government buildings and directed federal agencies to refrain from hiring employees of the firm.
Trump issued similar executive orders against other U.S. law firms that have represented causes or clients he opposes. Federal judges have sided with three other law firms that sued in response, also finding the orders to be unconstitutional, according to NPR.
According to AliKhan’s 53-page opinion, Trump’s order violates Susman Godfrey’s First and Fifth Amendment rights by limiting the law firm’s choice in clients, clients’ choice in choosing Susman Godfrey and more.
In a statement to Houston Public Media, Susman Godfrey declared the ruling a victory.
“We applaud the court for declaring the administration’s order unconstitutional,” the law firm said. “Our firm is committed to the rule of law and to protecting the rights of our clients without regard to their political or other beliefs.”
In 2021, Susman Godfrey represented Dominion Voting Systems in its lawsuit against Fox News. Dominion Voting Systems argued the TV network falsely published conspiracy theories about the company’s voting machines and a rigged 2020 election. Fox News reached a $787 million settlement with Dominion in 2023.