Trump admin fails to derail First Amendment lawsuit challenging attacks on Big Law firms, judge finds ABA has standing

Source: Law & Crime

Apr 2nd, 2026, 7:42 am


The White House has failed to beat back a First Amendment lawsuit challenging a series of executive orders targeting Big Law firms.

In a 21-page memorandum opinion and order, U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali, a Joe Biden appointee, denied the government's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the American Bar Association (ABA) over President Donald Trump's controversial orders that resulted in both deals and defiance from the high-powered firms in question.

In June 2025, voluntary associations of legal professionals sued, alleging multiple violations of the First Amendment, as well as the separation of powers, and collectively referred to Trump's orders as an "unlawful policy of intimidation against lawyers and law firms."

In August 2025, the government filed a motion to dismiss based on an alleged lack of standing — which the court denied in full on Tuesday.

To hear Ali tell it, the issues in the case are not particularly close.

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/argument-is-unsound-trump-admin-fails-to-derail-first-amendment-lawsuit-challenging-attacks-on-big-law-firms-judge-finds-aba-has-standing-to-sue-for-its-members/