In a notable development within legal circles, President Donald Trump appointed Allyson Ho, a partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, to the newly established Religious Liberty Commission. Ho, currently co-chair of the firm’s nationwide Appellate and Constitutional Law practice, will serve as an advisor, guiding the administration on matters related to domestic religious liberty through executive or legislative actions. This appointment was made official through an executive order issued on Thursday.
Allyson Ho is a highly esteemed figure in appellate law, having argued over 100 cases across federal and state courts, and presenting before the US Supreme Court on five occasions. Her legal acumen is underlined by her previous role as special assistant to President George W. Bush in the mid-2000s. Moreover, Ho is connected to the Trump administration through personal ties, being married to Judge James Ho, who was appointed by Trump to the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Ho has been candid in his critiques of what he perceives as political bias in the pro bono practices of major US law firms, as noted in Bloomberg Law.
Joining Allyson Ho on the commission are notable figures including TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw, former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, and author Eric Metaxas. The assemblage of advisors reflects Trump’s ongoing focus on religious liberty—a theme that resonates with certain segments of the US population.
While Ho and her firm have yet to comment publicly on the appointment, the legal community will be watching closely to see how this commission influences religious liberty policies. The announcement and further details can be found in Bloomberg Law.