C. Ryan Barber

Washington, D.C., United States

Reporter at The Wall Street Journal

@WSJ reporter covering DOJ, courts, et al | find me at @cryanbarber.bsky.social | Signal: cryanbarber.41 |

Articles

The Law Firms That Appeased Trump-and Angered Their Clients

4 days ago | wsj.com | Erin Mulvaney |Emily Glazer |C. Ryan Barber |Josh Dawsey

After firms struck deals to avoid punitive executive orders, some big clients decided to take their business elsewhereAt a recent luncheon at Cipriani in Midtown Manhattan, a top lawyer for Citadel delivered a message to leaders of some of the country’s biggest law firms. Brooke Cucinella told them that the hedge-fund company likes to work with law firms that aren’t afraid of a fight.
The Law Firms That Appeased Trump-and Angered Their Clients

4 days ago | fnlondon.com | Erin Mulvaney |Emily Glazer |C. Ryan Barber |Josh Dawsey

The Law Firms That Appeased Trump—and Angered Their ClientsAfter firms struck deals to avoid punitive executive orders, some big clients decided to take their business elsewhere Published June 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET At a recent luncheon at Cipriani in Midtown Manhattan, a top lawyer for Citadel delivered a message to leaders of some of the country’s biggest law firms. Brooke Cucinella told them that the hedge-fund company likes to work with law firms that aren’t afraid of a fight.
Trump’s New Pardon Attorney, Ed Martin, Is Eager to Target Biden-Era Cases

1 week ago | wsj.com | Sadie Gurman |C. Ryan Barber

Ed Martin has been flooded with clemency requests. He also wants to review applications for the restoration of gun-ownership rights. WASHINGTON—After a star-crossed stint as the District of Columbia’s top prosecutor, Ed Martin, a Trump loyalist, has a new role as the Justice Department’s pardon attorney—and he is quickly using it to target Biden-era prosecutions that rankled conservatives.
Trump Order Against Robert Mueller’s Former Law Firm WilmerHale Is Struck Down

1 week ago | wsj.com | C. Ryan Barber

A third judge declares the president’s targeting of elite law firms unconstitutionalA federal judge on Tuesday struck down President Trump’s executive order against the law firm WilmerHale, adding to a drumbeat of decisions that have rebuffed the White House campaign against the legal industry as unconstitutional. In a 73-page opinion, Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court in Washington.
Trump Order Against Robert Mueller’s Former Law Firm WilmerHale Is Struck Down

1 week ago | fnlondon.com | C. Ryan Barber

Trump Order Against Robert Mueller’s Former Law Firm WilmerHale Is Struck DownA third judge declares the president’s targeting of elite law firms unconstitutional Published May 27, 2025 at 5:59 PM ET A federal judge on Tuesday struck down President Trump’s executive order against the law firm WilmerHale, adding to a drumbeat of decisions that have rebuffed the White House campaign against the legal industry as unconstitutional.
Les juges américains, cibles de menaces, veulent se doter de leur propre service de sécurité

1 week ago | lopinion.fr | Katherine L. Long |James Fanelli |C. Ryan Barber

The Wall Street Journal Les « marshals » américains, chargés de la protection des magistrats fédéraux, dépendent en bout de chaîne du président Trump, qui intensifie ses critiques à l'égard du pouvoir judiciaire Publié le 27 mai 2025 à 13:30 Katherine Long, James Fanelli et C.
Exclusive | Judges Weigh Taking Control of Their Own Security Amid Threats

1 week ago | wsj.com | Katherine Khashimova Long |James Fanelli |C. Ryan Barber

U.S. marshals, sworn to protect federal judges, ultimately answer to President Trump, who has ramped up criticism of the judiciaryAmid rising tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary, some federal judges are beginning to discuss the idea of managing their own armed security force.
With D.C. Attack, ‘Judge Jeanine’ Pirro Faces First Test as Federal Prosecutor

1 week ago | wsj.com | C. Ryan Barber |Sadie Gurman

Career officials privately express relief over Pirro’s early handling of shooting of Israeli Embassy employeesWASHINGTON—Two weeks ago, Jeanine Pirro signed off for the last time as a co-host of “The Five” on Fox News.
Top Paul Weiss Litigators Leave to Start Their Own Firm

2 weeks ago | wsj.com | Erin Mulvaney |C. Ryan Barber

The exits, which include prominent Democratic lawyer Karen Dunn, come after the firm struck a deal with Trump’s White HouseProminent Democratic lawyer Karen Dunn and three other high-profile litigators are leaving Paul Weiss, two months after the law firm became the first to strike a deal with President Trump. Dunn, along with Bill Isaacson, Jessica Phillips and Jeannie Rhee, are leaving Paul Weiss to start their own boutique litigation firm.
Trump’s Campaign Against Elite Law Firms Suffers Another Defeat in Court

2 weeks ago | wsj.com | C. Ryan Barber |Erin Mulvaney

Judge strikes down executive order targeting law firm Jenner & BlockIn a matter of weeks, President Trump’s campaign against the legal industry racked up commitments from law firms to provide some $1 billion in pro bono work for causes favored by the White House. In court, the effort has met a much different fate: One gut punch after another. The latest blow landed Friday, when a federal judge in Washington struck down Trump’s executive order against the law firm Jenner & Block.