Ep 204 — Horsefeathers!

Docket Alerts:

Exactly zero grand jurors voted to indict the members of Congress who made a video in November reminding active duty service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders. And Judge Richard Leon told Secretary Hegseth to pound “Horsefeathers!” with his attempt to demote Senator Mark Kelly and dock his naval retirement.

The Justice Department hasn’t stopped trying to evade senate confirmation for US Attorneys. Hours after judges in New York exercised their legal right to appoint someone competent to run the office, the Trump administration fired him.

Subscribers will get a deep dive into AG Bondi’s efforts to ONE WEIRD TRICK a “triumvirate” of lawyers into the US Attorney spot.

MAIN SHOW:

Two hundred federal and state agents descended on a Mexican heritage festival in Idaho in October. They leveraged five arrest warrants for illegal gambling into a massive detention operation to brutalize hundreds of families. Now those families are suing under 42 USC § 1983, alleging a conspiracy between the feds and local law enforcement.

In DC, Trump appointee Judge Tim Kelly blocked the administration from taking revenge on inmates whose death sentences were commuted by President Biden by moving them all to Supermax.

After the Fifth Circuit’s terrible ruling last week allowing for indefinite detention of all non-citizens, district court judges are still finding ways to grant habeas petitions.

Back in DC, Judge Ana Reyes barred Secretary Noem from ending temporary protected status for 350,000 Haitians. She also had some frank words about the threats that rain down on judges who rule against the Trump administration – and why they won’t succeed.

Rodriguez v. Porter

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72256071/rodriguez-v-porter/

Taylor v. Trump [Death Row Commutations]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71717101/taylor-v-trump/

Kelly v. Hegseth

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72131361/kelly-v-hegseth/

US v. Naviwala [US Attorney New Jersey]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68269162/united-states-v-naviwala

Cumbe Lema v. De Anda-Ybarra [Texas Habeas]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72210802/cumbe-lema-v-de-anda-ybarra/

Hassen v. Noem [Texas Habeas]

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72143519/hassen-v-noem-secretary-us-department-of-homeland-security/