“Willful disregard for court orders is not permitted by the Constitution, particularly by coordinate government officials who have taken an oath to enforce it.
Not only would it “destroy the rights acquired under those judgments,” but it would also “make a solemn mockery” of “the constitution itself” to allow such officials to freely “annul the judgments of the courts of the United States,” he said.
For one week, Boasberg required the Trump Administration to submit “a declaration explaining the steps they have taken and will take to do so.”
According Judge Boasberg, following his first directive would “purge” the possible contempt finding.
Boasberg wrote,
“The most obvious way for Defendants to do so here is by asserting custody of the individuals who were removed in violation of the Court’s classwide TRO.
So that they might avail themselves of their right to challenge their removability through a habeas proceeding,” in reference to the temporary restraining order he issued.
