Summary

A federal judge criticized a Trump administration Justice Department lawyer who claimed they didn’t have to follow the judge’s oral order blocking deportations to El Salvador because it wasn’t in writing.

Judge Boasberg questioned why the administration ignored his directive to return immigrants to the US. The DOJ lawyer repeatedly refused to provide information about the deportations, citing “national security concerns.”

Frustrated, Boasberg ordered sworn declarations explaining what happened, quipping that he would issue a written order “since apparently my verbal orders don’t seem to carry much weight.”

  • AutistoMephisto@lemmy.world
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    3 hours ago

    Not just the military. I draw your attention to this, emphasis mine

    (a) In General. Process—other than a summons under Rule 4 or a subpoena under Rule 45 —must be served by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed for that purpose.

    Section (b) says:

    Enforcing Orders: Committing for Civil Contempt. An order committing a person for civil contempt of a decree or injunction issued to enforce federal law may be served and enforced in any district. Any other order in a civil-contempt proceeding may be served only in the state where the issuing court is located or elsewhere in the United States within 100 miles from where the order was issued.

    The line:

    a person specially appointed for that purpose.

    is interesting because it does not specify who is qualified to be appointed. Now, I am concerned that this language means that Judge Boasberg may only appoint one person, but if he seems it necessary, he could probably get away with appointing more.

    • Furbag@lemmy.world
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      1 hour ago

      Could he appoint one person who then assembles a “task force” of individuals who support them? Or do they have to be each appointed by the judge himself for that specific task?I think one guy isn’t going to cut it, but if 500 guys show up on the WH lawn to enforce the court order it might have some weight.