After securing the craven surrender of high profile liberal law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP without even entering a courtroom, an emboldened Downmarket Mussolini has ordered his comically corrupt Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to seek disciplinary actions against lawyers who are "filing frivolous claims designed to cause delays." What's a "frivolous claim?" Only Trump and Bondi know, but the note about delays makes it clear that Der Führer is angry that his fascist agenda is being blocked by numerous judicial restraining orders and hopes to do an end around the courts by threatening lawyers and law firms into not even filing suits to halt the regime in the first place.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/22/trump-ramps-ups-retribution-campaign-against-legal-community

Trump ramps up retribution campaign against legal community

"The memo, as a result, created a formal mechanism for Trump to unilaterally decide whether to impose politically charged sanctions through executive orders that strip lawyers of the security clearances they need to perform their jobs or prevent them from working on federal contracts.

Multiple legal experts suggested the memo would theoretically allow Bondi to decide a particular lawsuit that triggered a temporary injunction was causing an unnecessary delay, and refer the firm that filed the suit to face the effects of a punitive executive order.

That could cause a chilling effect and lead to the volume of litigation against the Trump administration to decline, the experts said. Even if the lawsuits are in fact for a legitimate purpose, there’s fear that their representation could put them in the president’s cross hairs and endanger their legal practices.

Trump also directed Bondi to open a review into the “conduct” of lawyers and their respective law firms in litigation against the federal government reaching back to the start of his first term in 2017 – and recommend whether it warranted additional punitive actions.

The memo comes as Trump in recent weeks has used executive orders targeting law firms to great effect."

Frankly, I don't have much to add here that we didn't already look at when I wrote up the Paul Weiss surrender situation we discussed a few days ago. The fact is that Trump has no legal authority to harass and punish lawyers for bringing cases before a judge to stop the Trump regime's often illegal, and frequently unconstitutional activities. Providing a check to the executive branch's power when it violates our civil rights, exceeds the President's authority, or is just straight up criming, is literally the prescribed role of the judiciary branch in the American system of government; the lawyers filing suits to stop Trump's fascist agenda aren't doing anything wrong, they're in fact doing their job as defined in the US Constitution. Trump just doesn't give a shit, and if he can't break the judges ruling against him, he'll happily try to further his authoritarian agenda by using his Department of Justice to harass the lawyers filing against his actions, and starving the law firms of federal access and contracts.

The good news here is that unlike some of their cowardly brethren in white shoe DC law firms, numerous legal advocacy organizations more closely associated with civil rights litigation, are openly stating that they have no intention of backing down. Groups like the ACLU, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Democracy Forward, have all issued statements pushing back on Trump's claims and promising to not only continue the fight, but also to keep bringing more cases against an overreaching Trump regime now acting unlawfully pretty much every day.

I'm not sure how much faith I have in the lawyers and the courts to stop fascism; after all, none of these folks have an army or a police force at their disposal to enforce court orders against a fascist regime and a president already granted virtual legal immunity by a 6-3 fascist high SCOTUS. But as I mentioned elsewhere, you can't win if you don't fight, and it is impossible to install a fascist dictatorship without a whole lot of collaboration, cowardice, and capitulation by the society the fascists are trying to dominate. Win or lose, fighting back is the first step towards stopping fascism, and as a society our best hope of resisting remains acting in infinite ways, across every sector, to make it cost more in time, effort, money, and if necessary in blood, to impose fascism, than the folks doing so stand to benefit from that fascism. Saying "no" is at least a start.

#Fascism #Trump #Lawfare #CivilRights #PamBondi #DoJ #Legal #Courts

#Trump administration refers #Maine to #DOJ over #TransgenderAthletes

by Brooke Migdon - 04/11/25

"The Department of Education on Friday referred a #TitleIX investigation into Maine schools to the #JusticeDepartment after the state failed to reach a resolution with the Trump administration over a finding that it violated federal anti-discrimination law by allowing transgender students to participate in girls’ sports.

" 'The Department has given Maine every opportunity to come into compliance with Title IX, but the state’s leaders have stubbornly refused to do so, choosing instead to prioritize an extremist ideological agenda [sic] over their students’ safety, privacy, and dignity,' said Craig Trainor, acting assistant Education secretary for [WHAT A JOKE] civil rights.

"The Education Department in its announcement said it will also initiate administrative proceedings to determine whether to terminate federal #K12 education funding for Maine’s state education department, including formula and discretionary grants.

"'The Maine Department of Education will now have to defend its discriminatory practices before a Department administrative law judge and in a federal court against the Justice Department,' Trainor said. 'Governor [Janet] Mills would have done well to adhere to the wisdom embedded in the old idiom — be careful what you wish for. Now she will see the Trump Administration in court.'

"Both the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which recently began investigating schools and states that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports, said in March that Maine had violated Title IX, the federal civil rights law against sex discrimination that the Trump White House says prohibits trans athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s teams."

Read more:
https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5245248-maine-transgender-athletes-doj-hhs-education-department-trump-mills/

#TransgenderRights #FollowTheScience #Transphobia #TransErasure #ProtectTransYouth #MaineResists #TrumpIsABully #SeeYouInCourt #AbortionRights? #WomensRights? #ArrestingMiscarryingWomen? #TrumpDoesntGiveAShitAboutWomen

The hearing has started.

Via Anna Bower:

Drew Ensign, who has represented the gov in the JGG matter before Judge #Boasberg, is here for #DOJ.

Judge #Xinis begins by explaining why we're here: #SCOTUS ruled, & directed the court to clarify its order re: "effectuating" the return of #KilmarAbregoGarcia.

Xinis: Contrary to what the govt put in its briefing, there is no need for further briefing. Now I need to know if the defendants are willing to answer my 3 questions I've asked...

#law

In a filing ~45 mins after the deadline had passed, #DOJ lawyers wrote:

“In light of the insufficient amount of time afforded to review the Supreme Court’s Order following the dissolution of the administrative stay in this case, Defendants are not in a position where they 'can’ share any information requested by the Court. That is the reality.”

This is another escalation of the #Trump admin’s refusal to acknowledge the #equal #power of the #JudicialBranch.

#law #ConstitutionalCrisis

NEW NOW

#DOJ says #Trump admin will NOT comply w/ Judge Xinis' order because the deadline is "impracticable."

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.59.0_1.pdf

#KilmarAbregoGarcia #law #Constitution #judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #ChecksAndBalances #CoEqualBranchesOfGovernment #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #DueProcess #CivilRights #HumanRights #DualState #lawlessness #AbuseOfPower

NOW

We have just passed the 11:30AM deadline, & #Trump’s #DOJ has not filed a response as ordered – per Kyle Cheney.

The hearing is still set for 1PM.

#KilmarAbregoGarcia #law #Constitution #judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #ChecksAndBalances #CoEqualBranchesOfGovernment #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #DueProcess #CivilRights #HumanRights #DualState #lawlessness #AbuseOfPower

Abrego Garcia's attys urged the judge to reject #DOJ’s request for delay. They argue the #Trump admin has been under order to begin facilitating Abrego Garcia's return for multiple days before #SCOTUS' stay Mon.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.54.0.pdf

“This Court's order to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return was issued one week ago. It was not stayed until Monday afternoon. Accordingly, the Govt should have been taking actions Fri, Sat, Sun, & Mon morning, & the Govt can report on those.”

#law #immigration

NEW

#Trump’s #DOJ is trying to cancel today's #KilmarAbregoGarcia hearing & delay filing a response to the judge's order until next week.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.52.0.pdf

The 9:30 deadline has passed with no information from the Justice Department about Abrego Garcia's location or status, as demanded by the judge. She has not granted an extension, unclear if she will.

#law #Constitution #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #DueProcess #CivilRights #HumanRights #DualState #AbuseOfPower #Trump

#Trump #DOJ on #SCOTUS ruling:

“As the Supreme Court correctly recognized, it is the exclusive prerogative of the President to conduct foreign affairs. By directly noting the deference owed to the Executive Branch, this ruling once again illustrates that activist judges do not have the jurisdiction to seize control of the President's authority to conduct foreign policy.”

That is NOT what SCOTUS said.
Clearly Trump plans on leaving #KilmarAbregoGarcia in #CECOT.

#immigration #law #judiciary

I will be cursing now …

Holy fucking hell

#DOJ bars its #attorneys from participating in #AmericanBarAssociation events

US Dpty AG [& fmr #trump #criminal defense atty] #ToddBlanche on Wednesday banned #Justice Dept attys from traveling to or speaking at #ABA events, in a memo seen by Reuters that accused the ABA of engaging in "activist causes" contrary to the government's interest.

#law
https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-justice-dept-bars-its-attorneys-participating-american-bar-association-events-2025-04-09/

it's crime season baby
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-justice-dept-disbands-cryptocurrency-enforcement-unit-2025-04-08/

#DOJ #uspol #corruption #fraud #crypto #FBI #LE #AML #moneylaundering #crime

#DOJ also argued that b/c it filed for a stay before the appeals court, it "should not be required to disclose sensitive information bearing on national security & foreign relations until that motion is resolved, especially given that this information is neither material nor time-sensitive."

[Not time-sensitive? They were literally flying people out if the country as fast as they could to avoid complying with the court’s order]

#law #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #DueProcess #Judiciary #Trump

Essentially the #DOJ told Judge #Boasberg that it does not need to provide the Court with any additional info (despite being ordered to do so) b/c "there was no violation of the Court's *written* order (since the relevant flights left US airspace, & so their occupants were 'removed,' before the order issued)"

DOJ then said the Court's oral pronouncements prior to the written order being docketed "were not independently
enforceable as injunctions"

[this is bullshit]
#law #Judiciary #Trump

4. #Trump #DOJ says they will only give Judge #Boasberg answers on #compliance "through an in camera & ex parte declaration." (that is, they say will file a non-public declaration that he alone can see). They still give zero specific reasons other than handwaving at national security.

#law #Constitution #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess#Venezuela #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower

Lee then says they're going to argue that the government should be required to give anyone subject to the #AEA a hearing before finding that they're covered, & they'll be seeking that later.

#Boasberg orders #DOJ to say how many people are designated under AEA. DOJ says again they may refuse.

🧵
#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #Venezuela #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct #Trump

#Boasberg then asks how many people are subject to the proclamation & how many people are currently in #ICE custody.

#DOJ says they don't have it. #ACLU also says they don't have it, & points out that the proclamation is vague enough that it's hard for anyone to figure out who is subject.

🧵
#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #Venezuela #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct #Trump

#Boasberg then asks the government about another issue; when was the Proclamation actually signed?

The #DOJ atty says that he does not have any information right now as to when the proclamation was signed, & Boasberg asks him to submit that information as well by noon tomorrow, & for the DOJ to provide an argument for when the proclamation went into effect.

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#Boasberg points out again that his equitable powers as a judge do not stop at the U.S. border lines or in international airspace.

He pauses & says this is a complex question & it would be better to be arguing them on the basis of the #facts, pointing out again #DOJ didn't give them the facts.

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#Boasberg asks "You're saying that the president somehow has extra powers over a plane once it enters international airspace once it leaves US airspace?"

#DOJ basically says yes, then starts repeating previous arguments.

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

Wow. #DOJ is arguing that #Trump has authority OUTSIDE the #AlienEnemiesAct in #InternationalWaters "that would not be subject to either orders."

#Boasberg seems skeptical at a minimum, & asks if the president's foreign power exists only once the plane crosses into international airspace?

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#DOJ is now arguing that this is a #ForeignPolicy issue & claims that the US would suffer if any TdA member weren't deported.

"I'm not calling into the question the government's foreign policy ... I'm just asking how you think my equitable powers do not attach to the plane ... ?"

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#Boasberg says just return the planes then figure out the answer, rather than simply ignoring the order.

#DOJ then says that isn't what they're arguing & then shifts to their third argument, which is inherent presidential authority to move military forces.

/again, these were not #military flights!

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#Boasberg responds to that: "Isn't the response what you think is unconstitutional or improper or illegal injunction to seek modification or appeal?"

#DOJ says "when the planes are in the sky and there is sensitive national security, that's not a call that can be made."

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#DOJ attorney begins saying the #law generally doesn't apply extraterritorially, and #Boasberg stops him, emphasizing that the question here is about his own equitable powers, not the Immigration and Nationality Act.

DOJ says the people had physically been removed so he no longer had jurisdiction.

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#DOJ says “no”, "removal" had already happened because they had already left US airspace.

#Boasberg says "the equitable power of the United States courts is not so limited," saying it's "pretty clear" that even if the enjoined acts were outside the territory of the US, you can't violate it.

"What argument do you have the equity stops at this country's borders"?

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump #AlienEnemiesAct

#Boasberg says "so when I said directly turn the plane around, you read it because my written order was pithier, this could be disregarded? That's a heck of a stretch."

#DOJ then basically says that's what they're arguing, then pivots to the international waters argument.

Boasberg explores the argument about being outside the US. He asks whether the DOJ is arguing that because the plane was outside US airspace, his order did not apply.

🧵
#law #Constitution #Judiciary #AbuseOfPower #Trump

#Boasberg again gets #DOJ to confirm that they are arguing that because he didn't include every word of that language in the written order, they could simply ignore what he said.

DOJ lawyer says that's what his client [#Trump] has instructed him to argue. Boasberg is incredulous & keeps pushing back.

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct

#DOJ argues that the written order issued 40mins later supersedes anything said orally, & says that the DOJ "on good faith" only viewed the written order as binding, not what #Boasberg said in court.

Boasberg notes he said “you shall inform your clients immediately” ... that any planes that are going to take off, or are in the air, shall be turned around….

He asks "You're telling me your first argument" is that didn't apply because it wasn't in the minute order?

🧵
#law #Constitution #Trump

#DOJ at first says they would be willing to submit a declaration but goes back their argument that they didn't violate the order, but then pushes back & says they won't until they can argue that they don't have to disclose any info at all.

#Boasberg asks for that to be part of noon tmw filing

Boasberg moves on to the core issue:

Did the #Trump admin violate the court’s order?

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct

#Boasberg: "The inquiry here is 'have they obeyed my order?'”

Boasberg notes #DOJ says they're representing no one on the third flight was subject to the #AEA, so Lee asks that they submit a sworn declaration.

Lee notes the govt is distinguishing between the AEA proclamation & a claimed inherent presidential authority, & asks for more on that.

🧵
#law #Constitution #immigration #Venezuela #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct #Trump

#Boasberg’s questions for #DOJ:

1. How many planes departed the US at any time on Saturday carrying any people being deported solely on the basis of the proclamation?

2. How many people in that category were on those planes?

3. What foreign countries did those planes land in?

4. What time did the planes leave the US?

5. What time did they enter foreign airspace?

6. What time did they land?

7. What time were those individuals transferred into foreign custody?

🧵
#law #Constitution #Trump

#Boasberg cites case law that the govt is required to provide a clear reason before refusing to provide him classified or national security info.

He asks if the #DOJ can provide in writing tomorrow by noon what their position is communicating the info to him.

Boasberg to the DOJ: "Let me just tell you the questions that I wish you could answer, & that I will be asking you.”

🧵
#law #Constitution #ChecksAndBalances #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct #Trump

#Boasberg points out he gets classified info all the time "Why are you showing up today & not having answers as to why you can't disclose it?”

He points out that if the answers are classified, fine, just tell him.

Boasberg remains incredulous at the fact that the govt won't even tell him why they won't tell him how many flights took off. #DOJ says all he can say is that the flights took off before his order, & he suggests that's not relevant to #compliance.

🧵
#law #Constitution #Trump

#Boasberg is now questioning the government about the other 2 flights, which the government itself somewhat mentioned in its orders.

The government continues to refuse to disclose any information. Boasberg asks why it can't be said outside of the public, & the #DOJ attorney refuses to say why.

🧵
#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #Venezuela #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct #Trump

#Boasberg is now asking about a third flight identified by the #ACLU that they were asking about, which is I believe what the last bit was about. He gets the #DOJ to confirm no one on that plane was subject to the #AEA proclamation.

🧵
#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #Venezuela #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #AlienEnemiesAct #Trump

#DOJ says that the only thing they are authorized to say is that the two flights which took off after the written order were not relevant to this case (which I guess is saying they had no one subject to the #AlienEnemiesAct #AEA on board?). He then claims #NationalSecurity & diplomacy mean he won't answer further.

🧵
#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump

#Boasberg gets the #DOJ to confirm the 5 individual named plaintiffs, which were the subject of his first TRO, are still here.

Boasberg asks "How many planes departed the US at any point on Saturday carrying any people being deported solely on the basis of the proclamation."

DOJ refuses to answer!!

🧵
#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower #Trump

Judge #Boasberg responded to #DOJ’s Monday motion to vacate the 5PM hearing:

The Court ORDERS that Defendants' 24 Motion to Vacate is DENIED. The hearing will proceed as scheduled. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on 3/17/2025.

So, it should start in about 5 minutes.

#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #Venezuela #immigration #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #Trump #AbuseOfPower

In a brazen display of defiance, #Trump’s #DOJ filed papers less than two hours before the 5PM hearing, telling Judge James E. #Boasberg that there was no reason for anyone to come to court because the administration was not going to provide any further information about the #deportation flights.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436/gov.uscourts.dcd.278436.24.0_2.pdf

#law #Constitution #14thAmendment #5thAmendment #DueProcess #immigration #Venezuela #CivilRights #ChecksAndBalances #JudicialBranch #Judiciary #SeparationOfPowers #AbuseOfPower