Federal judges in Trump deportation cases who seek to determine whether violations have taken place have faced evasion and delays from the administration, which, in turn, has experienced no serious repercussions for tactics aimed at giving little ground. But three judges in three different courthouses who have been overseeing deportation cases have said they are considering whether to hold the administration in contempt. Justice Department lawyers are in difficult positions in some cases and have admitted to federal judges that their “clients” in agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, have refused to provide information sought by the courts.
JUDGING THE JUDGES
Trump has made no secret during public remarks and in social media posts that he evaluates judges based on his political aims and his perception of theirs. When it comes to the high court, he has been swayed by allies on the right. Trump has complained privately about Justice Amy Coney Barrett, his most recent appointee, according to CNN, as well as Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, also members of the Supreme Court’s conservative majority. Last week, as Trump raged over a three-judge panel’s decision against his tariff plan, he took aim at Federalist Society leader Leonard Leo, who played a major role in helping Trump select nominees to the federal bench.
The New Republic: The conservative legal movement’s problem is that Trump does not really need them anymore. His grip over the Republican Party is ironclad.