Appeals court orders judge to end contempt investigation of #Trump admin #deportation flights

A federal judge must end his “intrusive” contempt investigation of the Trump admin for failing to comply with an order over flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last year, a divided appeals court panel ruled Tuesday.

#law #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #DueProcess #rendition #StateSponsoredAbduction #CivilRights #HumanRights #AbuseOfPower #judiciary #JudgeShopping
https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-boasberg-contempt-f5ab5110336be20773e8aa8d5b484879

Appeals court orders judge to end contempt investigation of Trump administration deportation flights

An appeals court panel has ruled that a federal judge must end his contempt investigation of the Trump administration for failing to comply with an order over flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador last year. The divided appeals court panel made that ruling Tuesday. The panel majority said Chief Judge James Boasberg abused his discretion in forging ahead with criminal contempt proceedings stemming from the March 2025 deportation flights. Circuit Judge Neomi Rao wrote in the court’s majority opinion that President Donald Trump’s administration has a “clear and indisputable” right to the termination of the contempt proceedings.

AP News

According to the [BS] majority opinion by a 3-judge panel from US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Chief Judge James #Boasberg abused his discretion in forging ahead with #criminal #contempt proceedings stemming from the March 2025 #deportation flights.

The ruling is the latest twist in a yearlong legal saga that has became a flashpoint in #Trump’s mass deportation campaign. The White House has portrayed Boasberg as a biased judge who overstepped his authority.

#Trump #law #immigration

The #Trump admin has a “clear & indisputable” right to the termination of the #contempt proceedings [WTF?? Since when can the defendant make their own ruling?], Circuit Judge Neomi Rao wrote in the court’s majority opinion.

“The legal error at the heart of these #criminal #contempt proceedings demonstrates why further investigation by the district court is an abuse of discretion,” Rao wrote.

#law #AbuseOfPower #judiciary #JudgeShopping

#Criminal #contempt is available only for the violation of an order that is clear & specific. (#Boasberg’s March 2025 order) did not clearly & specifically bar the government from transferring plaintiffs into Salvadoran custody,” Rao wrote.

Lawyers for the deported immigrants will ask the full circuit court to review the panel’s decision, acc/to plaintiffs’ attorney Lee Gelernt of the #ACLU. Gelernt said the majority opinion is “a blow to the rule of law.”

#Trump #law #immigration #judiciary

“Our system is built on the executive branch, including the president, respecting #CourtOrders. In this case there is no longer any question that the #Trump administration willfully violated the court’s order,” Gelernt said in a statement.

Rao was nominated by Trump, a Republican.

#law #immigration #AbuseOfPower #judiciary #JudgeShopping

…On March 15, 2025, #Boasberg issued a TRO barring the admin from transferring a group of Venezuelan immigrants to #ElSalvador under the #AlienEnemiesAct an 18th century #law. After the order was entered, 2 planeloads of immigrants protected by the order departed from the #US on their way to El Salvador, where they were locked up in #CECOT, one of the world’s most violent prisons. The admin said then DHS Secy Kristi Noem was responsible for the transfer decision.

#law #immigration #AbuseOfPower

#Boasberg has said the #Trump admin may have acted in #BadFaith by trying to rush Venezuelan immigrants out of the country in defiance of his order. He said he gave the admin “ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions” but concluded that “none of their responses has been satisfactory.”

#law #immigration #AlienEnemiesAct #DueProcess #rendition #StateSponsoredAbduction #CivilRights #HumanRights #DualState #AbuseOfPower #judiciary #JudgeShopping

…The case is assigned to Rao & Circuit Judges Justin Walker & J. Michelle Childs. Walker, also a #Trump nominee, wrote a separate opinion concurring with Rao’s. Childs, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe #Biden, dissented from the majority.
Childs said the court’s majority has trampled on Boasberg’s authority “in a way that will affect not only these #contempt proceedings but will also echo in future proceedings against all litigants.”TYVM

#law #AbuseOfPower #judiciary #JudgeShopping

@Nonilex

has he factored in that they just intend to continue to ignore his order????

@Nonilex
Sometime it makes ya wanna choke a mf'er out !!