# Judge rejects Trump admin's effort to disqualify Susman Godfrey law firm

> Federal judge dismisses Trump administration's attempt to disqualify Susman Godfrey in ABA lawsuit over executive orders.
- Title: Judge rejects Trump admin's effort to disqualify Susman…
- Summary: Federal judge dismisses Trump administration's attempt to disqualify Susman Godfrey in ABA lawsuit over executive orders. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali…
- Keywords: aba, susman godfrey, trump administration, executive order, law firm, disqualification, federal court, u.s. district judge, american bar association, legal ethics, crime, news
- Source: Law & Crime — https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/not-likely-judge-rejects-trump-admins-unpersuasive-effort-to-disqualify-major-law-firm-in-american-bar-association-case
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: aba, susman godfrey, trump administration, executive order, law firm, disqualification, federal court, u.s. district judge, american bar association, legal ethics, crime, news
## Judge rejects Trump admin's disqualification bid
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali rejects Trump administration's request to disqualify Susman Godfrey law firm in ABA lawsuit.

> the aba's complaint details a 14-week period leading up to this suit in which the government launched and executed a coordinated campaign to intimidate and punish law firms and their lawyers based on their speech
## ABA sues over Trump executive orders
American Bar Association sued after Trump administration issued executive orders targeting law firms for abandoning clients and policy positions.

> the aba's complaint details a 14-week period leading up to this suit in which the government launched and executed a coordinated campaign to intimidate and punish law firms and their lawyers based on their speech
## Susman Godfrey targeted by executive order
Susman Godfrey was one of the law firms targeted by Trump's executive order and obtained a permanent injunction against it.

> susman godfrey was one of the law firms targeted for sanctions by an executive order, and it obtained a permanent injunction against that order
## DOJ moves to disqualify law firm
Department of Justice moved to disqualify Susman Godfrey on grounds of violating legal ethics rules in D.C.

> to hear the government tell it, the situation was 'the textbook case where the rules of professional conduct prohibit…a lawyer from serving as both advocate and witness'
## Judge finds no ethical violation
Judge states government cannot identify any lawyer at Susman Godfrey likely to be a necessary witness in trial.

> here, the government does not identify any lawyer at susman godfrey who is likely to be a necessary witness at trial
## Rule 3.7(a) applies to individual lawyers
Rule 3.7(a) restricts representation by individual lawyers, not law firms, so disqualification of one lawyer doesn't affect the whole firm.

> rule 3.7a restricts representation by individual lawyers, not by their law firms
## No connection to Susman Godfrey
Lawyers representing ABA were not involved in communications with Susman Godfrey regarding the executive order.

> the court finds the lawyers representing the aba in this case are not likely to be necessary witnesses
## Government's argument rejected
Judge rejects government's claim that Susman Godfrey is a 'central player' in the underlying litigation.

> the government does not explain which party is likely to call a susman godfrey lawyer as a witness
## Discovery dispute resolved
Court clears path for resolving discovery dispute between DOJ and ABA over communications related to Susman Godfrey.

> that the aba seeks discovery about communications related to susman godfrey does not indicate the lawyers representing the aba here are likely to be necessary witnesses
## Case moves forward
Susman Godfrey remains in ABA lawsuit after judge dismisses Trump administration's disqualification request.

> the court finds the lawyers representing the aba in this case are not likely to be necessary witnesses
## Key takeaway

U.S. District Judge Amir Ali rejects Trump administration's claim that Susman Godfrey violates ethics rules, allowing the law firm to remain in ABA lawsuit.