Hours later, he was no longer at his law firm.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, Clement’s former law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, said in a press release that it would “no longer represent clients on matters relating to the interpretation of the Second Amendment”.
The news will come as a surprise to the isolated world of appellate litigation, where Clement is considered one of the country’s top Supreme Court lawyers and Kirkland is a top law firm and a breeding ground for appellate lawyers.
In a statement, Clement and Murphy said they were starting a new company.
“In light of Kirkland & Ellis’ announcement that the company will no longer deal with Second Amendment cases, including ongoing representations of individual claimants that we have maintained for years, we have decided to leave the company and set up our own company where we will we continue to serve the full range of our diverse clients, ”said Murphy.
“We do not take this step lightly. Kirkland is a famous company and we have many friends and valuable colleagues there, “said Clement. “Unfortunately, we were given a definite choice: either to withdraw from the current offices, or to withdraw from the company.
He added: “We could not abandon the current offices just because the client’s position is unpopular in some circles.”
A familiar source said several partners in the company had expressed embarrassment at the ongoing submissions of cases related to the Second Amendment after the school massacre in Uwalde, Texas. In the last few days, it has become clear that the break is irreparable and that Clement and Murphy will leave because of loyalty to their customers.
On Thursday night, Clement and Murphy called their former employer “the law firm that got tired of making money” in a Wall Street Journal article.
“Many companies abandon customers or change suppliers, as convenience requires. For others, the company’s decision will seem like another example of accepting the requirements of the awakening, “they wrote. “But law firms should not operate as ordinary businesses. Lawyers owe loyalty to their clients.”
Kirkland & Ellis described the two lawyers as “valued colleagues”.
“We wish them good luck in the future and look forward to working with them on issues other than the Second Amendment in the future,” said John A. Balis, chairman of the Kirkland Executive Committee.
The petitioners in Thursday’s case were Robert Nash, Brandon Koch and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, a branch of the National Revenue Agency.
Nash and Koch passed the necessary inspections and received licenses to carry hunting and target weapons, but failed to identify the special need for self-defense required by New York state law to obtain an unlimited license.
Clement said during an oral argument last year that the law makes it almost impossible for an ordinary person to obtain a license because the standard for the “right cause” is so demanding and is left to the “broad discretion” of the licensing officer.
“A good, even impeccable moral character plus a simple desire to exercise a fundamental right is not enough,” Clement said. “Neither lives nor works in a high crime area.”
CNN’s Dan Berman contributed to this report.
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