Judge rejects Trump administration bid to disqualify Susman Godfrey
Source published: Oct 16, 2026 · 5:49 PM EDT · Event: 2026-10-16
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali denied the Trump administration's motion to disqualify Susman Godfrey from representing the American Bar Association in its lawsuit over the administration's campaign against major law firms. Reuters, which reviewed the ruling, reported that Ali found the administration had not shown that Susman Godfrey lawyers representing the ABA were likely to be necessary witnesses. He also concluded that even if one lawyer became a witness, professional-conduct rules would not automatically require removing the entire firm.
Response / context
The Justice Department argued that Susman Godfrey's involvement in matters at issue created a conflict and that removing the firm would not substantially harm the ABA because other counsel were available. The ABA and Susman Godfrey called the motion another attempt to intimidate and chill the legal profession. Reuters reported that the White House had no immediate comment and that the ABA did not immediately respond to its request for comment. The ABA's complaint alleges an unlawful policy of targeting firms over their legal work, hiring, diversity policies and political ties; this counsel ruling does not decide those allegations. Separate court orders blocking enforcement of law-firm executive orders and the administration's appeals remain distinct proceedings.
Dates and scope
Source publication: Oct 16, 2026 · 5:49 PM EDT
Event or conduct: 2026-10-16. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali issued the ruling October 16. Reuters published its report at 9:49 p.m. UTC, or 5:49 p.m. EDT, that day. The Ledger reviewed Reuters, an independent legal-news report and the public docket index October 17.
Dated report. Publication, event and review times are different; the review time is when the sources were last checked, not a live update.
This brief preserves the available response and disposition. Coverage is non-exhaustive. How we review sources.
Read the original sources
- Reuters, Mike Scarcella: Trump administration loses bid to disqualify Susman Godfrey from lawyer group's lawsuit ↗
October 16 report based on Reuters' review of Judge Ali's ruling, with the parties' arguments, available responses and pending-case context
- Bloomberg Law, Ryan Tarinelli: Court Denies Bid to End Susman ABA Representation in Trump Suit ↗
Independent October 17 legal-news report confirming that the court denied the Justice Department's disqualification request
- CourtListener: American Bar Association v. Executive Office of the President docket ↗
Public docket index for case No. 1:25-cv-01888-AHA; the specific October 16 order returned an access error during this review and was not relied upon for its text
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