The American Bar Association Is Suing Over Trump's Extortion Of Law Firms

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18. American Bar Association sues Trump administration over law firm sanctions

The group said President Donald Trump was trying to intimidate lawyers and law firms to prevent them from challenging him in court.

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/16/american-bar-association-sues-trump

The American Bar Association sued the Trump administration Monday over the president’s sanctions on law firms, saying he was threatening the independence of lawyers and trying to intimidate them from challenging him in court.

“Never before has there been as urgent a need for the ABA to defend its members, their profession, and the rule of law itself,” the group’s lawsuit said.

President Donald Trump rattled the legal profession this year by issuing executive orders punishing some law firms and striking deals with others hoping to avoid similar penalties.

Four firms sued to challenge Trump’s orders. Judges have struck down three of the orders, calling them unconstitutional. A ruling in the fourth lawsuit, filed by the firm Susman Godfrey, is pending, though the judge hearing that case has temporarily blocked most of Trump’s punishments.

Trump’s deals with nine prominent law firms have outraged many attorneys at those businesses and across the country. The firms agreed to provide nearly $1 billion in combined pro bono legal services for causes that include aiding veterans. A wave of attorneys quit firms that made deals, in some cases defecting to competitors who fought Trump’s actions in court.

The ABA tries to stay out of politics. This will be a fun lawsuit to watch