Subject: Re: "blatantly" unconstitutional
AIUI, they didn't have these EO's vetted by DOJ lawyers as part of the transition (as would normally happen). They didn't want leaks. Instead, they used outside counsel.

On a little further research, it looks like they had an outside counsel in court - a guy named Brett Shumate who is (or maybe was until a couple of days ago) a partner at Jones Day. Apparently, the exchange related up thread happened less than a minute into the on the record conversation between the judge and Shumate.

--Peter