February 7, 2017

At Ninth Circuit, Big Law Makes Its Stand Against Trump Travel Ban

Source: Daily Report

A whirlwind of briefing began the morning of Feb. 4, and several major law firms, including Hogan Lovells, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, Mayer Brown, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have not shied away from rumbling with the Trump administration.

All the Big Law briefs back the states of Washington and Minnesota in their bid to uphold Robart's ruling. The amicus campaign comes as some large-firm lawyers have organized to raise funds and recruit lawyers to represent those targeted for removal and puts the firms in alignment with at least some corporate clients; nearly 100 companies represented by Mayer Brown signed an amicus brief opposing the travel ban.

In the Ninth Circuit case, a Jones Day team led by New York appellate specialist Meir Feder weigh in on behalf of professors from Boston University, Yale Law School, University of Texas School of Law, and New York University School of Law.

"In this case, the unusual selection of seven countries whose nationals are precluded from using the valid visas that they have or from obtaining visas for a period of time, coupled with the apparently extensive evidence that the seven countries were selected because of the religion of their citizens, raises a host of constitutional questions as to the rationality of the executive order and as to its discriminatory impact," Feder wrote.

Read more: http://www.dailyreportonline.com/id=1202778575308/At-Ninth-Circuit-Big-Law-Makes-Its-Stand-Against-Trump-Travel-Ban?mcode=1202617074542&curindex=0&curpage=ALL

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This is important, folks. The power of big law should not be underestimated. Too often it is used as a tool of corporations. In this one instance, corporate interests (mainly tech) are aligned with the good of society.

This story comes from the Daily Report, the biggest and most reputable news source for the legal profession. Unfortunately, this story is behind a paywall. But they do have a free initial signup if you want to see it. Or send me a PM and I will copy it for you.