Overview
- Nine prominent law firms agreed to nearly $1 billion in pro bono commitments following executive orders from President Trump targeting perceived adversaries.
- Firms have emphasized that their agreements preserve independence over client and matter selection, rejecting Trump's broader interpretation of their commitments.
- Public interest organizations report difficulty securing legal representation, with firms wary of cases that might provoke retaliation from the administration.
- Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, are investigating potential violations of bribery, extortion, and racketeering laws tied to the deals.
- Some firms, such as Paul, Weiss, reversed course on dropped clients after public backlash, illustrating the chilling effect on civil rights and other public interest cases.