washington johnathan smith resign u.s. justice department inauguration day look forward spend time infant son plan unravel week late president donald trump unveil explosive foreign travel ban within two weeks smith new job legal director civil right group muslim advocate draft brief successful court challenge ban join former top obama administration lawyers fight trump surprise smith colleagues political appointees democratic president barack obama would leave justice department lead republicans unusual fast sign trump adversaries republican lawyers say less hasty move oppositional roles post-election george terwilliger senior justice department official president george h.w bush describe obama lawyers action unprecedented memory really bad form one reason obama lawyers quick move say trump aggressive use executive authority day one guarantee attract court challenge obama face legal fight executive power challengers formerly lawyers president george w. bush issue immigration obamacare come late obama presidency besides smith lawyers jump fray include former attorney general eric holder advise california legislature challenge trump immigration environmental regulations healthcare former act solicitor general neal katyal help hawaii contest trump revise travel ban influential manhattan prosecutor preet bharara another 45 obama-era u.s. attorneys job trump administration ask resign friday many obama lawyers keep touch reject notion proffer republicans obama behind resistance efforts lawyers credit rapid transition trump hardline position key issue ethical concern presidency business interest unique threat democracy constitution see assault president mount muslim community say smith work religious discrimination issue justice department norman eisen obama top ethics lawyer late ambassador czech republic expect focus work think tank trump election instead say ethics emergency constitutional dimension galvanize back initial obama role eisen also chair citizens responsibility ethics washington watchdog group co-founded group already sue trump allege ethics violations obama appointees take trump include former white house lawyer ian bassin found unite protect democracy new group probe trump ethics jam cadogan work smith justice department naacp legal defense education fund civil right group already clash new administration career government lawyers political appointees normally resign power shift also resign oppose trump one sharon mcgowan work lgbt issue justice department inauguration day offer job director strategy lambda legal lgbt advocacy group mcgowan say decide leave justice trump name jeff sessions hardline conservative alabama senator attorney general game-changer say know would chance preserve work hard obama lawyers move fast join fight trump