Overview

• U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell declined to recuse herself from overseeing the lawsuit against Donald Trump’s executive order targeting Perkins Coie.
• Howell described the administration's recusal motion as baseless and an attempt to deflect from weaknesses in its legal arguments.
• The executive order, issued on March 6, 2025, limits Perkins Coie’s access to federal contracts and facilities, citing its past work for Hillary Clinton and alleged ties to the Steele dossier.
• Earlier this month, Howell temporarily blocked parts of the order, citing constitutional concerns and potential harm to the firm.
• The judge emphasized the judiciary's role in evaluating the legality of executive actions, rejecting the administration's criticism as undermining judicial integrity.