Praetor VerlagsgesellschaftMar 8, 2025
M.S. Bellows, Jr.

The Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie is one of the best in the world. When I was a baby lawyer at a similar firm representing McDonnell Douglas, all of us respected Perkins Coie as our counterpart, representing Boeing since Boeing's founding in 1916. The firm has over 1,000 attorneys in 21 offices across three continents, is known for its pro bono work, and truly is a leader in innovative, ethical representation.

However, they also represent Democrats, and so Trump has signed an executive order trying to destroy them.

As I said before, I am proud to be a lawyer. We lawyers are a vital line of defense in protecting democratic institutions, and we are under attack by fascists.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp

Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. The

The White House
Mar 7, 2025 at 3:06amWeb
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 7, 2025

I want to make this clearer: the law firm Perkins Coie has represented Boeing since Boeing was founded in 1916. Trump's executive order today is forcing Boeing to fire the lawyers they've used for 109 years because they also represent Democrats.

My prayer is that even the fascists on SCOTUS consider this a bridge too far.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp/

Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose. The

The White House
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 7, 2025

Seriously, people, please scream more about this executive order, which is titled "Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP" and begins: "By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

"Section 1. Purpose. The dishonest and dangerous activity of the law firm Perkins Coie LLP ('Perkins Coie') has affected this country for decades. Notably, in 2016 while representing failed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton...."

and then continues to basically force any clients with a government contract, incl. Boeing, to find new lawyers.

See above for who Perkins Coie is.

Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025

The executive order targeting a single, century-old law firm for destruction also tries to stop ALL big law firms from hiring minorities:

"The Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall review the practices of representative large, influential, or industry leading law firms for consistency with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including whether large law firms: reserve certain positions, such as summer associate spots, for individuals of preferred races; promote individuals on a discriminatory basis; permit client access on a discriminatory basis; or provide access to events, trainings, or travel on a discriminatory basis."

Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 10, 2025

Sequel to the above posts:
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." -Dick the Butcher in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2, planning to overthrow the legitimate government and establish a tyranny.

"We have a lot of law firms that we’re going to be going after." -Donald Trump, today. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-law-firms-executive-order-interview-b2711843.html

Lawyers defend our institutions. Anyone gunning for them wants to overthrow us.

Trump confirms retribution campaign against law firms that clash with his agenda

The president says his administration is ‘going after’ law firms he claims are ‘dishonest’ and ‘bad for the country’

The Independent
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 12, 2025
Update to the above thread: Perkins Coie has filled a lawsuit to stop Trump's executive order attacking them, and @heidilifeldman (as usual) has done a great job of unpacking and explaining it: https://heidi-says.ghost.io/explained-perkins-coies-lawsuit-against-trumps-order-targeting-it/
Explained: Perkins Coie's lawsuit against Trump's order targeting it

As I wrote in my earlier post today, Donald Trump has escalated his attack on rule of law and U.S. constitutional democracy by issuing an executive order targeting Perkins Coie, a law firm he dislikes and fears. Now, Perkins Coie, represented by Williams & Connolly, has commenced a lawsuit to

Heidi Says
Show threadHeidi Li FeldmanMar 12, 2025
@msbellows Thank you.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 12, 2025
@heidilifeldman _/\_
Show threadPusher of PixelsMar 12, 2025
@msbellows @heidilifeldman I was very surprised and saddened to discover she's blocked me here. No idea why
Show threadKarl AuerbachMar 8, 2025
@msbellows Uh oh, my own company reserves jobs on the basis of race. We hire only members of the Human race.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@karlauerbach Discrimination against LLMs!
Show thread@pineywoozle ‘s #3WordNoteMar 7, 2025
@msbellows That’s grotesque.
Show threadf*cking b*tch clubMar 7, 2025

@msbellows “Waah! I hate green beans! Therefore it’s illegal to serve green beans in any US restaurant!’

#nextlevelridiculous

Show threadSite Reliability Enby🏳️‍⚧️🏁🔦📈🐺👗😷Mar 7, 2025
@grammasaurus @msbellows Religious logic in a nutshell.
Show threadLoad averageMar 7, 2025

@msbellows and I'm pretty sure that the paragraph about the chilling effects of this proclamation will be one for the textbooks. If upheld this would prevent anyone who might be disfavored by the President from securing competent legal representation because the officers of the court may fear reprisals for successfully representing their clients.

An absolutely despotic and unamerican order.

Show threadJoe HeafnerMar 8, 2025
@msbellows Surely no one will take this seriously?
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@heafnerj Let me put it this way. If you were an aerospace company with hundreds of millions of dollars of contracts with the US government, and you were told that if you didn't fire your law firm you would lose them all, what would you do?
Show threadJoe HeafnerMar 8, 2025
@msbellows The president can’t dictate that though. Or rather, a real president can’t dictate that. That would be my response.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@heafnerj And this SCOTUS will rule how? And after how long with your client having no revenue?
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@msbellows @heafnerj President can do whatever he wants. He is the law. Who's going to stop him? Everyone just obeys and does whatever he commands. The SCOTUS ruled he is above the law.
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@msbellows @heafnerj The congess is powerless because DOGE took control of US treasury. Congress can rule whatever but Trump and Musk have the final word. Seems to be impossible for USians to understand that the coup is already done and democracy ended. Without resistance.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@bhasic @heafnerj Actually, in every political system the generals have the final word. And I suspect that's where we're headed.
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@msbellows @heafnerj That is true and I have mentioned Egypt in many conversations. Is there a Sisi in the US?
Show threadAN/CRM-114Mar 8, 2025

@msbellows @bhasic @heafnerj I’m not getting my hopes up, civilian control as a principle is embedded pretty deep, for example we saw the DC National Guard ordered to sIt out Jan 6 rather than box those rebels in.

That being said, if there is an interservice civil war, my money’s on the pro-democracy Army as the pro-Trump Air Force has to land sooner or later

Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@flyingsaceur @msbellows @heafnerj Civil war could be avoided if millions would march to DC and there was a general strike. Trump would have to be dragged out of the White House. Looks like nothing like that is happening. Maybe it's easier to look away while soldiers march to Canada. Where's the grit and attitude that USians like to say about themselves?
Show threadCoach Pāṇini ®Mar 8, 2025
@bhasic @flyingsaceur @msbellows @heafnerj
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@paninid @flyingsaceur @msbellows @heafnerj
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@bhasic @flyingsaceur @heafnerj Remember what Churchill apocryphally said: Americans will always do the right thing, after they have exhausted all other possibilities.
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@msbellows @flyingsaceur @heafnerj Well all is already lost so now would be a good time to change things.
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@msbellows @flyingsaceur @heafnerj Democrats don't have leaders and they suck and should be left to die naturally. Time for a new movement and party I think. Maybe a party that's against genocides, billionaires, povetrty, corruption, pollution etc. Zelensky won Poroshenko by a landslide because he was not corrupt and influeced by Russia or lobbyists.
Show threadElon Muksis 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇪🇺Mar 8, 2025
@msbellows @flyingsaceur @heafnerj Poroshenko was anti-Russian but lost peoples trust like Tymoshenko also. Corrupted politics anyway and the people had enough of that. The people made a great choice.
Show threadCoach Pāṇini ®Mar 8, 2025
@flyingsaceur @msbellows @bhasic @heafnerj
Show threadJoe HeafnerMar 8, 2025
@msbellows All I can say is that I rely on laws and the Constitution working when they're supposed to. Otherwise, nothing is off the table.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@heafnerj I'm not without hope. But I believe it's going to get MUCH worse before it gets better. In fact, I hope it does get much worse, and quickly, because the only way out is through.
Show threadKarl AuerbachMar 8, 2025
@msbellows Oh boy, a Bill of Attainder, but by the executive rather than the legislative branch.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@karlauerbach EXACTLY!!!
Show threadKanceptMar 8, 2025
@msbellows time for us as Unites States of America citizens to get our legal representatives Smith & Wesson a call and help us sort this mess out. It's looking like this may the only way to make sure they can hear us.
Show threadVery Human RobotMar 8, 2025
@msbellows
This one is extra interesting because it's obviously a chilling effect first amendment issue, and the Supreme Court has previously been super against government overreach.
Will they contort themselves into pretzels to allow it, or will they find a way to shut it down without looking like they're slapping Trump?
Show threadVery Human RobotMar 8, 2025

@msbellows
I'd also like to see the interpretation of fifth and fourteenth amendment for this action...

Given that the target is *a law firm*, I have hope they will be adequately represented!

Show threadCaptain Jack SparrowMar 8, 2025

@msbellows

Nice to see moron trump making enemies for himself within the USA and around the world.

Show threadJanisMar 8, 2025

@msbellows I'm not entirely sure it's because they represent Democrats. Industry-wise, there are near-monopolies on defense and air hardware, and it's very, very closed. 50 years worth. Dangerously so. These guys are old-school Republicans, aging engineer-types, Clemson & UPenn grads, and frat bros. I'm about 1000 feet from the old Lockheed HQ, so I couldn't help but follow along.

I think it's going to be sanity-preserving to remember Chrump railroaded the old guard.

Show threadGezThePezMar 9, 2025
@msbellows doesn’t feel like freedom
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 9, 2025
@GezThePez It does not. Also does not sound consistent with the Sixth Amendment.
Show threadicasticoMar 7, 2025

@msbellows

I feel like this one won’t turn out how Trump envisioned.

Show threadBebadefaboMar 7, 2025
@msbellows I hope they absolutely destroy him in his own courts
Show threadOlsonMar 7, 2025
@msbellows our President is a vile man.
Show threadLaura "Tegan" Gjovaag ⛈ 🐸Mar 8, 2025

@msbellows

WTF?

I mean, really, WTF?

WTActualF?

Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@realtegan Yep. It's REALLY bad.
Show threadMatt McIrvinMar 8, 2025
@msbellows It would be a bill of attainder if it were a bill.
Show threadTomasHradckyMar 8, 2025
@msbellows Since trump has no idea how to write this up or even the deep particulars I wonder who is the driving force behind this. Sure, his hatred of anything clinton and dossier related will have him foaming at the mouth to sign this and call it his own, but who are the lawyers writing this up? They certainly have a beef with Perkins Coie.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@TomasHradcky Miller. Miller's behind all of this. He's an evil fucking genius. Musk's just a powerful toddler.
Show threadf*cking b*tch clubMar 8, 2025
@msbellows @TomasHradcky I bet Vought too.
Show threadAsbestosMar 9, 2025

@msbellows @TomasHradcky

Tell me this guy would not have been in the SS. He would have found a way to cover up his family and joined.

Show threadDr Andrew A. Adams #FBPE 🔶Mar 8, 2025

@msbellows @benroyce
https://lithub.com/what-did-shakespeare-mean-when-he-wrote-lets-kill-all-the-lawyers/

'Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens shared this reading of the line, even analyzing it in a 1985 decision: “As a careful reading of that text will reveal, Shakespeare insightfully realized that disposing of lawyers is a step in the direction of a totalitarian form of government.”'

What did Shakespeare mean when he wrote “let’s kill all the lawyers?”

Hello there. Perhaps you clicked on this link because you have heard people cite Shakespeare on the necessity of killing all the lawyers and wonder if it’s a myth. Or maybe you suspect it&#82…

Literary Hub
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@a_cubed @benroyce Exactly. I've been thinking about Dick the Butcher a lot these days.
Show threadCodhisattvaMar 8, 2025
@msbellows love to see a movement among lawyers “Stand Up For The Rule Of Law” and perhaps embolden the ABA to defrock corrupt lawyers and judges.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 8, 2025
@Codhisattva The ABA doesn't handle licensing – it's a voluntary organization – but it's becoming increasingly outspoken. I'm proud of them! https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-supports-the-rule-of-law/ and https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/03/aba-rejects-efforts-to-undermine-courts-and-legal-profession/
Show threadCodhisattvaMar 9, 2025
@msbellows are lawyers ready to take to the streets? Will a national organization like ABA call for a national day of protest? The NLG could even defend them in court.
Show threadM.S. Bellows, Jr.Mar 9, 2025
@Codhisattva I think a lawyers' strike would be more effective.
Show threadCodhisattvaMar 10, 2025
@msbellows sure love to see that. How ready? Which union calls for it? I don’t know any org besides NLG that would even be near a strike.
Show threadLRMar 8, 2025
@msbellows the dynamic of this insane idea is that he's disrupting running contracts that his government depends on. not every company *can* follow every stupid dictation he comes up with (this won't be the last one), and so important projects will just have to be suspended. the pool of company willing to take on new contracts will diminish. only loyalists will want to work with him, and they won't be the best of the biz. so shortsighted.