WilmerHale v. Executive Office of the President
Case page of WilmerHale v. Executive Office of the President.
Overview[edit]
Case Summary:
The law firm WilmerHale sues to block an Exeuctive Order [1] targeting them.
Case Status:
The District of D.C. ruled in favor of WilmerHale, blocking the EO. The DoJ has appealed that ruling to the D.C. Circuit, where the briefing schedule is onging. The EO remains blocked, for now.
Upcoming Events:
| Date | Summary | Court |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-27 | First round of procedural motions due from both parties the the appellate court. | D.C. Circuit |
| 2025-09-11 | First round of dispositive motions due from both parties to the appellate court. | D.C. Circuit |
Topics Involved:
Courts Involved:
| Court Level | Court | Docket Number | Judge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Courts of Appeals | D.C. Circuit | 25-5277 | Not Available |
| Federal Trial Courts | District of D.C. | 1:25-cv-00917 | Richard J. Leon |
Detailed Timeline[edit]
List of all events in this case:
| Date | Summary | Court |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-28 | WilmerHale files a complaint, requesting the court "declare that the Order is unconstitutional" and enter "interim, preliminary, and permanent orders ... to prevent the implementation or enforcement of the Order." SOURCE NEWS | District of D.C. |
| 2025-03-28 | WilmerHale formally moves for a preliminary injunction & temporary restraining order to stop the Order's effect during the litigation. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-03-28 | After a hearing, the District Court grants in part the motion for TRO, so the government is "enjoined from implementing or enforcing Sections 3 and 5 of the Executive Order" until further notice. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-04-01 | The court orders, with all parties' agreement, that the TRO be extended until final judgement. | District of D.C. |
| 2025-04-08 | The DoJ moves to dismiss the case, arguing one section of the EO at a time, that the Executive:
(1) "has a right to speak," (2) "is entitled to great deference" on security clearance review, (3) can use "the procurement power to advance social policy," (4) can direct "the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ... to review whether ... employers ... are violating the civil rights laws," and (5) issue guidance on access "to government buildsings and government officials." SOURCE |
District of D.C. |
| 2025-04-08 | WilmerHale moves for summary judgement in their favor because "the Order violates the First Amendment several times over[,] ... violates the separation of powers[, and] ... violates WilmerHale Clients' ... rights to engage counsel." SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-04-17 | The DoJ opposes WilmerHale's motion for summary judgement. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-04-17 | WilmerHale opposes the DoJ's motion to dismiss. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-04-23 | The District Court holds a hearing on the motions for summary judgement and to dismiss. NEWS | District of D.C. |
| 2025-05-27 | The District Court rules in favor of WilmerHale, findign that "the Order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional." SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-06-06 | The DoJ moves to clarify that the ruling only applies to the government's behavior toward WilmerHale, not any other possible subject of EEOC investigation. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-06-06 | WilmerHales moves to have the court order the DoJ to make sure every relevant agency received notice that the Order was ruled unconstitutional (since the DoJ had refused to do so without a court order). SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-06-17 | DoJ responds, arguing that there were government agencies not specifically named in the case, and as such they should not be bound by its judgement. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-06-20 | WilmerHale responds, pointing out that since the court found the Order unconstitutional in its entirety, "the judgement against the United States affects the legal obligations of all federal agencies and officials." SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-06-26 | District Court rules that its "declaratory relief runs as to the United States as a whole," amending its earlier ruling so "the relief ordered by the Court will apply government-wide." SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-07-28 | The Circuit Court receives the DoJ's appeal of the District Court's ruling against the Executive Order targeting WilmerHale. | D.C. Circuit |
| 2025-07-28 | The DoJ gives notice that it has appealed this decision to the D.C. Circuit. SOURCE | District of D.C. |
| 2025-08-27 | First round of procedural motions due from both parties the the appellate court. | D.C. Circuit |
| 2025-09-11 | First round of dispositive motions due from both parties to the appellate court. | D.C. Circuit |