Attorney General Bonta: Court Ruling Blocking Trump Administration from Retaliating Against Attorneys Protects Free Speech and the Rule of Law

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the District Court for the District of Columbia granting a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump Administration from retaliating against Perkins Coie LLP and its attorneys, as part of a campaign by President Trump to silence lawyers and law firms that represent individuals and causes he opposes and to chill opposition.

“This ruling is a win for free speech and the rule of law,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The President cannot use the power of his office to punish those who disagree with him. Today, our system of checks and balances worked. The court blocked the Trump Administration from retaliating against Perkins Coie based solely on the clients and ideas it represents, in accordance with the rights and freedoms enshrined in our Constitution to protect the American public.” 

Earlier today, as part of a multistate coalition, Attorney General Bonta filed an amicus brief in support of law firm Perkins Coie’s lawsuit seeking to block the Trump Administration from retaliating against the firm and its attorneys for no reason other than that it has dared to challenge the Administration in court.  In the amicus brief, the attorneys general defended the rule of law and a fundamental principle underlying the American legal system — that everybody is entitled to vigorous representation.