A federal judge expressed deep skepticism Wednesday over a President Donald Trump executive order targeting a prominent law firm, signaling that she was inclined to grant a request to permanently block its enforcement.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell grilled a Justice Department lawyer over the government's plans to suspend security clearances from lawyers at the firm of Perkins Coie and pressed him to explain why the Trump administration was forcing law firms to disavow the use of diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in its hiring practices.
