BALTIMORE — A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from the Trump administration targeting Maryland’s federal judiciary, condemning the legal action as “potentially calamitous.” U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen, appointed by Trump himself, criticized the administration’s ongoing attacks on the judiciary, noting that White House officials had labeled judges with terms such as “rogue” and “unhinged.”
Cullen emphasized that while governmental branches may experience tensions, the executive’s coordinated effort to undermine the integrity of judges was both unprecedented and regrettable. “Mediating those disputes must occur in a manner that respects the Judiciary’s constitutional role,” he stated.
The lawsuit stems from an order issued by Maryland’s chief judge, which halted the deportation of migrants contesting their removals. The Justice Department argued this pause hindered the president’s authority to enforce immigration law and sought legal action to overturn the order.
In his ruling, Cullen noted that continuing with the litigation would contradict established legal precedents and violate constitutional traditions. He asserted that the suit lacked the legal grounding necessary to proceed, highlighting that even if it were valid, the judges involved were protected by legal immunity. Rather than pursuing confrontational litigation, the administration should have followed established appellate procedures, he advised.
The lawsuit, initiated in June, represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s conflict with the federal judiciary, which has seen multiple rulings obstructing its policy agenda. A spokesperson for the White House expressed continued determination, stating, “This will not be the final say on the matter, and the Trump Administration looks forward to ultimate victory on the issue.”
Among the judges mentioned in the lawsuit was Paula Xinis, who ruled that the Trump administration had illegally deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a case that became a point of contention amid the administration’s broader immigration efforts.
Cullen underscored the legal dangers of the lawsuit, stating that it entangled an entire judicial body in an extraordinary and troublesome legal situation. He noted that all 15 federal judges in Maryland, along with the court clerk, were implicated, making this case particularly unusual.
The judge clarified that the administration’s actions were contrary to the legal framework designed to balance powers among government branches. “One branch’s alleged infringement on another’s exclusive power does not license a constitutional free-for-all,” Cullen concluded.
The underlying order, signed by Chief Judge George L. Russell III, prevents the immediate deportation of immigrants seeking review of their detention in Maryland. It was designed to allow the court to maintain its jurisdiction and ensure that petitioners could access legal representation effectively.
The administration’s legal team criticized the decision, contending that judicial frustrations are not grounds to bypass the law. Paul Clement, a prominent attorney representing the Maryland judges, stated the lawsuit was without precedent, implicating a co-equal branch of government in this manner was without historical basis.
This ruling further underscores the complex dynamics at play between the executive branch and the judiciary, reaffirming the foundational principles that govern their interaction.
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