NYCLA Rule of Law Task Force & Senior Officers Regarding Executive Action Against Covington & Burling, LLP

The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) Officers today issued the following statement:

The New York County Lawyers Association Rule of Law Task Force and senior officers condemn the Memorandum Order issued on February 25, 2025, by the President that was entitled “Suspension of Security Clearances and Evaluation of Government Contracts.” The Memorandum targets the lawyers and the law firm representing the former Special Counsel, Jack Smith—specifically, Peter Koski and other lawyers and employees of Covington & Burling LLP—for retaliatory actions based on that representation. The Memorandum suspends their active security clearances, calls for the termination of ‘any engagement of’ the firm by any government agency, and directs a review of all other government ‘contracts with’ the firm.  

This Memorandum is a direct assault on the rule of law and our constitutional system. It is also part of a pattern by the President of misusing his executive authority to retaliate against individuals who were faithfully discharging their duties as government employees or were exercising their constitutional right of free expression. Furthermore, the government should never threaten or punish lawyers for representing clients in accordance with the applicable rules of professional responsibility, lest lawyers be discouraged from representing clients the government is targeting. In a system based on the rule of law, the government should never put its hand on the scales by trying to oust or punish adversary lawyers who have done nothing wrong.

About the New York County Lawyers Association
The New York County Lawyers Association (nycla.org) was founded in 1908 as one of the first major bar associations in the country that admitted members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or gender, and has a long history of supporting the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Since its inception, NYCLA has pioneered some of the most far-reaching and tangible reforms in American jurisprudence. For more information on NYCLA please visit nycla.org.

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