A federal appeals court appeared skeptical Thursday of a push from President Donald Trump to punish four major law firms, in a case that could outline the bounds of presidential power and have broader ramifications for the legal industry.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, during oral arguments, asked probing questions of the scope of executive power in a legal clash over a string of Trump executive orders from more than a year ago that targeted the firms.
The orders took aim at law firms over their pro bono practice, work they did on behalf of their clients, attorneys they hired or their perceived violations of discrimination law for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
