More than 1,100 law students back Susman Godfrey in its lawsuit over Trump order

By Sara Merken

April 29 (Reuters) - More than 1,100 law students on Tuesday filed a court brief supporting law firm Susman Godfrey, saying U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order against the firm amounts to "government reprisal."

The friend-of-the-court brief was filed by 1,129 law students and 51 law student organizations in Washington, D.C., federal court.

The law students' brief said that Trump's executive orders are retaliation against Susman and other law firms for "taking up representations disfavored by those in control of the executive branch of the government."

Four firms have sued the Trump administration over orders he issued against them since taking office in January. Nine other firms have collectively pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal services to causes the White House supports and made other concessions to avoid being targeted by Trump.

Students from a broad array of law schools, including Ivy League and state universities across the country, signed onto the brief. Kline & Specter, a personal injury law firm representing the students and organizations, said the signatories are from 161 schools in 38 states.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

Susman Godfrey sued earlier this month to block Trump's April 9 order, which restricted its lawyers' access to government buildings and officials, and threatened to cancel federal contracts held by its clients.

The executive order accused Susman Godfrey of undermining U.S. elections, which it has denied. Judges have issued rulings temporarily blocking key provisions of Trump's similar orders against Susman; Perkins Coie; WilmerHale; and Jenner & Block, finding that the president's actions likely violated constitutional protections for free speech and due process.

All four firms have asked the federal court in Washington to permanently strike down Trump's orders. The Justice Department has argued that Trump acted within his authority to penalize the firms for allegedly working to "weaponize" the legal system against him and his allies.

Brennan Caruthers, one of the students who signed Tuesday's brief, told Reuters he hoped it would signal to other firms that have not yet taken a stance that "this is something that students care about" and could affect where they choose to practice law.

"We believe the rule of law is extremely important," said Caruthers, a third-year law student at the University of Texas Law School.

Caruthers is co-president of the National Plaintiffs' Law Association, a group of law students and alumni that promotes plaintiff-side work as a career path. The group helped coordinate with law students and the lawyers who filed the brief, he said.

Law students have taken other steps in the wake of the Trump administration's targeting of law firms.

Students at Georgetown University's law school organized a public spreadsheet detailing how more than 800 firms have responded to the administration's actions.

Separately, more than 100 law students have signed onto a pledge, announced last week by the People's Parity Project, committing not to work at any law firm that "gives in to Trump administration demands" on diversity, equity inclusion or types of cases the firm handles.

Law firm partners, law professors, advocacy groups, state attorneys general, former top legal executives at large companies and others have also filed court briefs in support of the challenges.