Overview

• U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a temporary restraining order against President Trump’s executive order targeting Susman Godfrey, a law firm known for representing Dominion Voting Systems.
• The judge found the order likely violated the First and Fifth Amendments, describing it as a 'shocking abuse of power' and retaliation for the firm’s legal work in high-profile election-related cases.
• The executive order sought to cancel federal contracts with the firm, revoke security clearances, and bar its employees from federal buildings, measures now temporarily blocked by the court.
• Susman Godfrey, which helped secure a $787 million settlement from Fox News in a defamation case, argued the order was unconstitutional and aimed to punish lawyers for defending their clients.
• This marks the fourth time a federal court has blocked similar orders from Trump targeting law firms, with critics warning these actions undermine legal independence and set a dangerous precedent.