A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to restore sites changed under an executive order calling for the nation’s museums, parks and landmarks to not display elements that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”
The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts also orders a pause on any additional changes, writing that the plaintiffs have shown that these efforts are meant “to rewrite the Nation’s history with a white-out pen.”
“History cannot be faithfully told while excluding the experiences of communities whose contributions, struggles, and achievements form an important part of our Nation’s story,” the judge wrote.
Genuine question…
What powers does the judge have if the Trump administration just ignore those orders?
Trump isn’t personally in charge of any of this shit, the NPS workers are going to comply with the order.
But if he tells them to ignore the order?
Does the judge have any real power to do anything?
I think the other poster is mostly right but they aren’t answering your real question. Nothing. The judiciary system has no power to genuinely restrain the president from continuing with an act, especially if the chain of command follows suit. If a large portion is captured (which in this case, it is) then the judges order become nothing but a list to possibly convict on after the power is transferred, if the power is transferred.
Well his name was removed from the Kennedy Center so someone is listening to the orders.
Was it though? So far all they’ve done is installed a tarp
There was a video from the side of the tarp showing letters being removed. Maybe it was Kennedy’s name…
Do you honestly believe the majority of NPS staff will listen to Trump over a judge?
No idea. I was just wondering what actual power the judge has.
Trump can fire you, but the judge can put you in jail. Make your choice.
I feel like, considering how much Trump keeps stabbing the NPS workers in the knee, at least some of them might.
They did move the National Forest Service headquarters to Utah though. And I guess they “do things differently” around there
That’s the thing. Our country has been running on Gentlemen’s Agreements for the past 240 years or so.
All of that breaks down when people who aren’t gentlemen take power. Until now the Administrative Branch would just comply with the Judicial Branch’s court order because the Constitution says that’s what you’re supposed to do. Now? Who knows…
I think in general, an individual judge has the authority to compel the appearance of people directly involved in a lawsuit and to jail people for contempt. They can also issue warrants to have people arrested if they fail to appear, but I’m not sure what would happen if the police refuse to enforce the warrant. Judges may also have additional authority depending on the text of the law involved.
I heard a lawyer say that we have a phrase for when the executive branch defies the judicial branch: “Constitutional Crisis.”
I think when you fill 6 spaces on your Constitutional Crisis punch card, you win another free Constitutional crisis.