A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has deemed President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the prominent law firm WilmerHale as unconstitutional. On a Tuesday, on the 12th anniversary of his first ruling. He argued that to enforce such an order would be to violate the very freedoms envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
Judge Leon’s vitriolic opinion came down as a bomb from the U.S. District Court. He further stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and bar to the American legal system. He stated, “The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting.” This unprecedented statement stands as a testament to the appointed judge’s integrity in safeguarding the judiciary from real or imagined political intimidation.
Judge Leon made clear his worries about the meaning of such an executive order as he ruled. He indicated that allowing it to remain in effect “would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers.” He continued, “And our Founding Fathers understood this! This robust denunciation serves to demonstrate his understanding that the order does indeed violate core tenets of our democracy.
Yet that’s what happened when President Trump issued an executive order aimed squarely at WilmerHale. The administration properly punished the firm for its participation in lawsuits of which they disapproved. To be sure, this action raised the deepest alarm among legal scholars and civil rights activists. They claimed it threatened the independence of instruction to counsel.
President Trump at the annual National Memorial Day Observance in the Memorial Amphitheater. This A More Perfect Union event held in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on the day of the ruling. At this occasion, on Memorial Day, May 26 th, 2025, he gave the keynote address in salute to U.S. Armed Forces veterans. Photographer Ken Cedeno from Reuters documented still images of the president that framed his participation in this historic and solemn occasion.
The court’s decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue around executive power and the judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional principles. Legal experts agree that this unanimous ruling has great potential to reshape the actions of presidents to come. It would further help deter efforts to corrupt or intimidate judicial bodies.