K&S has asked the SDNY, where it has appeared, for permission to withdraw from the defense of DOMA. The supporting declaration tells us little of its reason. The declaration says only (and only by citation to Rules) that withdrawal can be accomplished without injury to the client (the US) and that the court would find other good reason to allow it to withdraw. I wonder what those might be. Perhaps the judge will ask.
I was okay with the firm's decision to represent the defendant (though if I were a law student it would have dissuaged me from interviewing there). I wanted K&S to mount a vigorous defense of DOMA and lose. However, I imagine the firm might have been startled at the overwhelmoing hostile response to its retainer and it must have worried about the effect on recruitment.
The gag on the firm's lawyers and employees not involved in the representation was truly offensive.