In a notable legal clash, law firm WilmerHale recently secured a victory against the Trump management. Judge Richard Leon ruled against a retaliatory executive order, expressing his disapproval with strong language and even referencing a gumbo recipe in his decision.

The Order is akin to a gumbo. Sections 2 through 5 are the meaty ingredients-e.g.,the Andouille,the okra,the tomatoes,the crab,the oysters.But it is the roux-here, § 1-which holds everything together.A gumbo is served and eaten with all the ingredients together, and so to must the sections of the order be addressed together. As explained in this Memorandum Opinion, this gumbo gives the Court heartburn.

Adding another layer to this victory, WilmerHale is now the subject of a protest song. The Silent Moon Project has released “Justice on Trial: The Stand of wilmerhale,” a folk-style anthem that celebrates the firm’s resistance.

The song includes lyrics such as:

They came for the lawyers, cloaked in command
With Executive orders and a trembling hand
WilmerHale stood though the storm was wild
For justice for rights for every law-abiding child.

The song also acknowledges other law firms that took similar stands:

Jenner & Block,Perkins Coie too
Fought for the law when few dared to
Susman Godfey answered the call
Suing the powers that threatened us all.

Firms on Both Sides of the Issue Acknowledged

The song doesn’t shy away from mentioning firms that took a different path during the Trump era:

$100 million won’t buy back your soul

But others knelt and sold thier name
Skadden, Paul, Weiss – what a shame
$100 million won’t buy back your soul
When you traded the law to keep your role