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.
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.”