Judicial matters in the news, since the last post:
Article drop for 01/08
Trump triggers a renaissance for grand juries
Grand juries have increasingly become a headache for prosecutors trying to advance controversial Trump policies.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01/07/trump-grand-juries-letitia-james-comey-indictments-00713579
Hundreds of judges reject Trump’s mandatory detention policy, with no end in sight
Judges have ruled against the administration in more than 1,600 cases.
Federal judge halts ICE attempt to stop court order mandating better conditions in S.F. holding cells
ICE holding cells must be improved
missionlocal.org/2026/01/sansome-ice-san-francisco-lawyers-committee/
This is what happens when your immigration judge is fired
The SF court will be down to four judges in January. Thousands of asylum seekers will have to wait years more for their hearing dates.
sfstandard.com/2025/12/29/sf-immigration-court-judges-thousands-cases-delayed/
Ninth Circuit Rules That Trump Must Return Control of National Guard to California
Wyoming Supreme Court protects abortion access
A Red-State High Court Just Struck Down an Abortion Ban. The GOP Has Itself to Blame.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/wyoming-strikes-down-abortion-ban-republicans-blame.html
Federal judges strike down California open-carry ban
The California Department of Justice is reviewing the opinion and “considering all options,” a spokesperson said.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01/02/federal-judges-strike-down-california-open-carry-ban-00709555
Beg Your Pardon? Trump Appointee Claims the President Won’t ‘Pardon People for Committing Crimes’
‘We Let Bad People Go!’ Republican Senator Rages At Trump’s J6 Pardons
www.mediaite.com/politics/we-let-bad-people-go-republican-senator-rages-at-trumps-j6-pardons/
Trump May Have Accidentally Pardoned the Jan. 6 Pipe Bomber
The Justice Department has touted the arrest, but he might still walk free.
www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/01/06/jan-6-pipe-bomber-trump-pardon-column-00712039
Minnesota Could Prosecute the ICE Shooter. Trump Can’t Pardon Him.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/is-minneapolis-ice-shooter-immune-state-prosecution-supreme-court.html
Wisconsin judge convicted of obstructing arrest of immigrant resigns as GOP threatens impeachment
Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, will work to fill the vacancy without delay, a spokesperson said.
92-year-old judge handling Maduro case ‘doesn’t give a s--t what anyone thinks about him’
Lawyers who have practiced before the Clinton appointee say he’s known to operate a bit differently.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01/05/venezuela-maduro-judge-hellerstein-00710894
Court watchers fear Emil Bove’s ‘level of allegiance’ to Trump
Trump’s former personal lawyer may still be in his client’s corner, experts say.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01/06/emil-bove-trump-00711295
Even When It’s Pointless, the Trump Admin Automatically Ignores Judge’s Rulings
Lindsey Halligan has apparently just continued to call herself U.S. attorney for the last month and a half, ignoring a judge's ruling disqualifying her.
https://www.jezebel.com/lindsey-halligan-us-attorney-judge-orders-ruling-ignored-trump-justice-department-illegal
Trump’s revenge campaign is now putting the entire Justice Department at risk
One of Trump’s most high-profile DOJ appointments faces a rare disciplinary threat from the bench.
www.vox.com/politics/474356/lindsey-halligan-discipline-federal-judge
Trump Loyalist Investigating Letitia James Is Disqualified By Judge
A federal judge has formally disqualified John Sarcone from serving as the head prosecutor in the Northern District of New York.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/latest-news-trump-maduro_n_695bb603e4b0d6beb5fd9469/liveblog_695fdd58e4b088e2524d76b6?origin=home-latest-news-unit
Article drop for 12/31
Lobbyists Stand To Make Millions From 'Pardon-Shopping Industry' Driven By Trump: Report
I Was the President’s Pardon Attorney. He’s Making a Mockery of the Pardon Process.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/opinion/trump-biden-presidential-pardons.html
Judge blocks Trump effort to yank whistleblower attorney's security clearance
www.axios.com/2025/12/24/trump-whistleblower-attorney-security-clearance-blocked
Trump suffers several defeats in effort to punish opposing lawyers
The president’s latest loss came this week, when a federal judge in Washington temporarily blocked Trump’s efforts to strip a security clearance from a lawyer involved in his first impeachment.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/26/trump-mark-zaid-lawyers-security-clearances/
Ex-C.I.A. Chief Asks to Keep Justice Dept. From Steering Case to Favored Judge
The request, addressed to the top federal judge in Miami, sought to block a U.S. attorney from pursuing a politically charged inquiry before Judge Aileen Cannon, who has repeatedly decided in President Trump’s favor.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/us/politics/trump-doj-investigation-judge-cannon-brennan-cia.html
Judge Cannon clears way for release of classified docs report — but gives Trump an out
The Trump-appointed judge emphasized that her timeline for release could give way to legal claims that the report shouldn’t be released at all.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/22/classified-documents-case-aileen-cannon-00704266
Federal judge temporarily blocks HUD permanent housing cuts for homeless
The U.S. district judge questioned whether "chaos" is the point in homelessness funding overhaul.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/19/judge-blocks-hud-permanent-housing-cuts-00700477
The Democrats Had One Huge Shutdown Win. Trump Tried to Thwart It. He Just Failed.
slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/democrats-shutdown-win-trump-firings-blocked.html
Trump-appointed judge: DHS must restore disaster grants to Democratic states
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/24/trump-ice-dhs-fema-grants-states-sanctuary-city-ruling
Court orders Vought to keep CFPB funded while case is underway
The order from a DC District Court judge also casts doubt on the Tr.mp administration's efforts to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/30/vought-cfpb-funding-order-00707866
Court allows White House to end Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood in 22 states
Appeals court reversed injunction blocking Trump administration’s defunding of reproductive healthcare giant
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/31/planned-parenthood-medicaid-funding-ends
Judge orders Trump admin to offer relief to men deported under Alien Enemies Act
But the judge, James Boasberg, stopped short of ordering the Trump administration to facilitate the immediate return of the men to the U.S.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/22/alien-enemies-act-james-boasberg-ruling-00704244
More stumbles by feds mar Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case
Judge extends order protecting illegally deported immigrant from re-arrest
Federal Judge To Hold Hearing On Whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia Is Being Vindictively Prosecuted
Prosecutors will have to explain their reasoning for charging Abrego Garcia, and if they fail in that, the charges could be dismissed.
DOJ Pushed To Prosecute Kilmar Abrego Garcia Only After Mistaken Deportation, Judge's Order Says
A newly unsealed order in the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia reveals that high-level Justice Department officials pushed for his indictment.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/deportation-error-abrego-garcia-top-priority_n_6954292fe4b032c4e8a88b3c?origin=home-latest-news-unit
Judge Blocks Detention of British Researcher Who Scrutinizes Online Hate
Imran Ahmed, who runs an organization that chronicles disinformation, was among five Europeans the State Department had barred, claiming they promote censorship.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/25/us/politics/imran-ahmed-judge-order.html
Judge Tosses Indictment Against TikTok Star Shot by ICE Before Trial Even Starts
https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-tosses-indictment-against-tiktok-star-shot-by-ice-before-trial-even-starts/
Federal Judge Blocks Deportations of South Sudanese Migrants
The decision temporarily preserved deportation protections for more than 200 South Sudanese.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/us/politics/tps-south-sudan.html
Federal Judge Orders Homeland Security to Stop Arresting Immigrants at Courts In Northern California
sfist.com/2025/12/23/federal-judge-orders-homeland-security-to-stop-arresting-immigrants/
San Francisco Immigration Court Down to Four Judges After New Departures
www.kqed.org/news/12068148/san-francisco-immigration-court-down-to-four-judges-after-new-departures
Trump Judge Gives ICE an Ultimatum Over ‘Demonstrably False’ Claims
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-judge-rips-ice-for-evasive-and-demonstrably-false-claims/
ICE Wielded An Unusual — And Possibly Unlawful — Tactic To Detain Dozens Of People
One agent called the raid a "s**tshow." A federal judge had a different term for what came next.
Supreme Court Keeps Trump’s National Guard Deployment Blocked In Chicago Area, For Now
The outcome is a rare Supreme Court setback for Trump, who had won repeated victories in emergency appeals since he took office again in January.
Fox News Guest Argues Supreme Court Is ‘Inviting’ Trump to Deploy the Marines to Chicago
[featuring UC Berkeley Law Prof. John Yoo, author of the George W. Bush-era "torture memos"]
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/fox-news-guest-argues-supreme-court-is-inviting-trump-to-deploy-the-marines-to-chicago/
Judge sides with Trump over his $100K visa fee
The decision from Judge Beryl Howell, an Obama appointee, is the first test of the White House's H-1B policy.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/23/judge-ruling-trump-h1b-visa-fee-00705670
Judge green lights NY driver’s license law, rejecting a Trump administration challenge
The DOJ sued the state over the law in February.
Trump admin can share immigrants’ Medicaid data with ICE, judge rules
Blue states sued to prevent Medicaid data from being used in deportations.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/29/trump-admin-can-share-immigrants-medicaid-data-ice-judge-rules-00707716
Supreme Court rebuffs Trump in immigration judges’ free-speech case
The justices rejected the administration’s emergency appeal but signal they could act in the future.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/19/supreme-court-trump-immigration-judges-00700893
Why the Supreme Court Is Giving ICE So Much Power
The Constitution inarguably applies to federal immigration agents—but the Supreme Court has taken away the hope of ever holding them to that standard.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/ice-scotus-impunity/685298/
The Supreme Court Cast Its Lot With Trumpism. It Should Be Very Worried.
Article drop for 12/20
Judge Blasts ICE for “Evasive and Demonstrably False” Lies Under Oath
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/trump-lies-doj-ice-conditions-torture.html
Trump DOJ Plagued by ‘Unprecedented Errors’ — More Than 1 Out of 5 of Its D.C. Criminal Cases Are Getting Tossed
Trump admin broke spending deal agreement to halt mass layoffs, judge rules
Judge Susan Illston plans to issue yet another order blocking RIFs.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/17/government-mass-lawyoffs-hearing-00695923
SF Judge Rejects Government Bid to Delay Processing Student Debt Claims
www.kqed.org/news/12066761/sf-judge-rejects-government-bid-to-delay-processing-student-debt-claims
Federal judge temporarily blocks HUD permanent housing cuts for homeless
The U.S. district judge questioned whether "chaos" is the point in homelessness funding overhaul.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/19/judge-blocks-hud-permanent-housing-cuts-00700477
Judge ends injunction against Miami land transfer for Trump library
The judge made her decision based on how Miami Dade College, which owns the land, held a second public hearing this month during which the public was invited to testify.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/18/judge-injunction-miami-land-transfer-trump-library-00698392
Judge lets Trump’s ballroom construction proceed
George W. Bush appointee Richard Leon allowed the below-ground construction to continue.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/16/white-house-ballroom-construction-ruling-00694019
Federal judge weighs Trump’s claim he is immune from civil litigation over Capitol attack
thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/donald-trump-immunity-jan-6-civil-litigation/
Immigration-related
A Wisconsin Judge Faces Federal Trial This Week for Daring to Help an Immigrant Avoid ICE
The Trump administration is eager to make an example of Judge Hannah Dugan, who didn't want to see defendants arrested by ICE in her courtroom
Judge Who Was Charged With Helping Immigrant Briefly Elude Feds Is Found Guilty
https://www.mediaite.com/crime/breaking-judge-who-was-charged-with-helping-immigrant-briefly-elude-feds-is-found-guilty/
A Judge Was Found Guilty of Obstructing ICE. That’s Not the Most Farcical Part.
slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/wisconsin-judge-guilty-ice-trump-immunity-farce.html
Federal Judge Orders Trump to Return National Guard Troops in LA to State Control
Appeals court clears way for Trump to keep National Guard on DC streets
But the 3-judge panel cast doubt on Guard deployments in ‘non-consenting’ states.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/17/trump-national-guard-washington-dc-court-ruling-00694754
US Judge Hears Lawsuits Over ICE Arrests at Courthouses, Immigration Check-Ins
Judge lifts Trump administration limits on lawmaker visits to ICE jails
A federal judge ruled that ICE cannot enforce newly adopted policies that require lawmakers to provide seven days notice before visiting detention facilities.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/17/ice-lawmaker-visits-policy-ruling-00695801
Supreme Court rebuffs Trump in immigration judges’ free-speech case
The justices rejected the administration’s emergency appeal but signal they could act in the future.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/19/supreme-court-trump-immigration-judges-00700893
Pardons
Trump Is Already Plotting Pardons for His Inner Circle
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-is-already-weighing-pardons-for-his-inner-circle/
Trump Is Using a Sacred Power for Depraved Purposes
The president’s pardons encourage public officials to place personal interests ahead of the interests of the people.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/12/trump-pardons-legalize-government-corruption-cuellar/685241/
Article drop for 12/14
The justice system and the DOJ
"Abject partisanship": Trump loyalist Bove hit with judicial misconduct complaint
www.axios.com/2025/12/11/trump-emil-bove-ethics-misconduct-complaint
Justice Department Again Fails To Re-Indict New York Attorney General Letitia James
Court orders DOJ to return data seized from Comey friend
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled the material obtained from law professor Daniel Richman was handled with “callous disregard” for his rights.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/12/court-orders-doj-to-return-data-seized-from-comey-friend-00689956
DOJ skewers judge as it seeks to quash contempt proceedings
The bitter showdown follows President Donald Trump’s call to impeach Judge James Boasberg.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/12/trump-boasberg-deportation-contempt-00689798
Trial starts for a Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing ICE
www.npr.org/2025/12/12/nx-s1-5641969/trial-starts-for-a-wisconsin-judge-accused-of-obstructing-ice
The justice system and immigration
Trump administration’s immigrant detention policy broadly rejected by federal judges
Federal judges across the country have objected to the Tr.mp admin's policy of mass detention
S.F. immigration court is down from 21 judges to just seven
Two judges are retiring by the end of the year, leaving the court with just seven total — and the largest case backlog in the state
www.missionlocal.org/2025/12/obrien-park-immigration-sf-judge-retire-trump-asylum-honduras-ecuador/
One of the Most Basic Rights in the Book Is Regularly Denied to ICE Detainees
www.slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/civl-rights-trump-ice-detention-fail.html
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Freed From Federal Immigration Detention On Judge's Order And Returns Home
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia After His Release
How the Trump Administration’s Most Wanted Man Finally Went Free
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/trump-administration-kilmar-abrego-garcia-released.html
Federal Judge Orders Trump to Return National Guard Troops in LA to State Control
https://www.kqed.org/news/12066625/federal-judge-orders-trump-to-return-national-guard-troops-in-la-to-state-control
SF Judge Rejects Government Bid to Delay Processing Student Debt Claims
https://www.kqed.org/news/12066761/sf-judge-rejects-government-bid-to-delay-processing-student-debt-claims
US Judge Hears Lawsuits Over ICE Arrests at Courthouses, Immigration Check-Ins
https://www.kqed.org/news/12066492/us-judge-hears-lawsuits-over-ice-arrests-at-courthouses-immigration-check-ins
The justice system and pardons
Andrew Schulz And Co-Hosts Nuke Trump’s Crypto Pardons: ‘Straight Paying For It’
The Pardon That Represents the New Era of Corruption
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/opinion/trump-pardon-cuellar-justice.html
Trump Grants Futile Pardon to Jailed MAGA Election Denier
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-grants-futile-pardon-to-election-denying-maga-clerk-in-2020-rage-rant/
‘It’s an Act of Intimidation’: Colorado AG Pummels Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of Former Election Clerk Convicted in State Court
Trump Gets Destroyed 6-to-1 On Pardons — Including Whopping 2-to-1 With Trump Voters
Article drop for 12/10
Immigration courts thrown into chaos as Trump administration purges dozens of judges
The president has ousted about one-seventh of the DOJ judges weighing whether to deport noncitizens.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/06/trump-immigration-court-judge-purges-00679376
Trump Says ‘I Don’t Know Him’ When Pressed About Apparent Hypocrisy In Pardoning Violent Drug Kingpin
Halligan Continues as U.S. Attorney, Prompting Criticism From Judges
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/us/politics/halligan-us-attorney-judiciary.html
DOJ claims it has the power to decide who gets Trump’s sweeping 2020 pardon
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/04/trump-pardons-2020-election-ed-martin-pam-bondi-00677119
Justice Department urges judge to jail former Jan. 6 defendant after alarming return to DC
Appeals court hands Trump a victory, OK'ing firings of two independent agency heads
www.npr.org/2025/12/05/nx-s1-5634705/trump-nlrb-mspb-firing-appeal
Appeals Court Sides With Pete Hegseth On Trans Military Ban
www.mediaite.com/media/news/just-in-appeals-court-sides-with-pete-hegseth-on-trans-military-ban/
Judge Orders Court to Unseal Trove of Epstein Probe Secrets
www.thedailybeast.com/judge-orders-new-epstein-grand-jury-docs-to-be-unsealed/
Judge Allows Ghislaine Maxwell's Sex Trafficking Case Records To Be Unsealed
U.S. Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Evidence Use In Dismissed Comey Case
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-evidence-use-in-dismissed-comey-case_n_6934f023e4b0e3887427ba0c?origin=home-latest-news-unit
Judge Orders Mom of Karoline Leavitt’s Nephew Released from ICE Custody
www.mediaite.com/media/news/judge-orders-mom-of-karoline-leavitts-nephew-released-from-ice-custody/
A Judge Just Drew the Line on the Supreme Court’s Terrible “Kavanaugh Stops” Decision
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/judge-roasts-supreme-court-kavanaugh-stops.html
Boasberg escalates contempt inquiry over Alien Enemies Act deportations
www.politico.com/news/2025/12/08/judge-boasberg-alien-enemies-act-deportations-el-salvador-00681503
Judge Smacks Down Trump’s Desperate Demand to Free Supporter
‘Blatant lawlessness’: Judge decries another ‘unlawful’ deportation
Judge Says Trump Must End Guard Deployment in Los Angeles
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration had illegally kept troops in Los Angeles after emergency conditions had ended. The administration is expected to appeal.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/politics/national-guard-los-angeles-trump.html
Judge Emil Bove Faces Ethics Complaint for Attending Trump Rally
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/politics/emil-bove-trump-rally.html
Article drop for 12/3
"Day Around the Bay: Trump Fires Five More SF Immigration Judges, to Hire ‘Deportation Judges’"
https://sfist.com/2025/11/21/day-around-the-bay-trump-fires-five-more-sf-immigration-judges-to-hire-deportation-judges/
"Trump Administration Fires 8 Immigration Judges in New York
The firings, part of a nationwide effort, felt “like a Monday afternoon massacre,” said one judge who lost her job last month."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/nyregion/immigration-judges-fired-trump.html
"The One Place Trump’s Power Remains Constrained
In the criminal-justice system, when the president’s bluster collides with facts and evidence, he keeps losing."
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/criminal-prosecutions-trump-administration-comey/685049/
"Trump Judges Just Can’t Stop Ruling Against His Signature Policy"
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-judges-just-cant-stop-ruling-against-his-signature-policy/
"More than 220 judges have now rejected the Trump admin’s mass detention policy"
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/28/trump-detention-deportation-policy-00669861
"Colorado Judge Tells Immigration Agents to Stop Arrests Without Warrants"
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/us/politics/colorado-immigration-ruling.html
"Judge blocks provision of law that strips Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood affiliates"
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/02/judge-blocks-provision-of-law-that-strips-medicaid-funding-for-planned-parenthood-affiliates-00673962
"Judge Dismisses Charges Against James Comey, Letitia James"
https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/breaking-judge-dismisses-charges-against-james-comey-letitia-james/
"Judge Throws Out Truth Social’s Defamation Lawsuit Against The Guardian"
www.mediaite.com/lawcrime/judge-throws-out-truth-socials-defamation-lawsuit-against-the-guardian
"Dear JAG: What Do I Do if I Get Unlawful Orders to Blow Up Civilian Boats"
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/11/mark-kelly-trump-news-unlawful-orders.html
"Trump pardons real estate developer indicted under his own DOJ
Tim Leiweke was charged with conspiring to rig a bid to build a Texas sports arena."
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/03/trump-pardons-real-estate-developer-indicted-under-his-own-doj-00676253
"Trump Frees Fraudster Just Days Into Seven-Year Prison Sentence
David Gentile had been found guilty for his role in what prosecutors described as a $1.6 billion scheme that defrauded thousands of investors."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/politics/trump-david-gentile-commutation.html
"David Gentile no longer required to pay $15.5M in restitution after Trump’s commutation
Gentile was convicted in August 2024 of conspiring to defraud thousands of investors in a capital funds scheme totaling $1.6 billion."
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/03/david-gentile-fraud-restitution-trump-00674963
"Trump Says He’ll Pardon Ex-Honduran President Serving 45 Years for Drug Trafficking"
https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-says-hell-pardon-ex-honduran-president-serving-45-years-for-drug-trafficking/
"Trump pardons Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar
Cuellar and his wife were charged in 2024 with accepting $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities."
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/12/03/congress/henry-cuellar-trump-pardon-00674210
"NYT Columnist Warns Of Chilling Way Trump’s Pardon Abuse Could Get So Much Worse"
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-setbacks-oscars-race-begins_n_692eb669e4b02d38edefc8fb/liveblog_69304f36e4b0cee44381dab8?origin=home-whats-happening-unit
"I clip news articles for myself every day! This is just the last 10 days. "
I got this in my email this week.
How Trump Has Exploited Pardons and Clemency to Reward Allies and Supporters
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-pardons-clemency-george-santos-ed-martin
Trump’s sweeping 2020 election pardon raises alarms ahead of the midterms
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/10/donald-trump-pardon-2020-election-allies-00646073?nid=0000018f-3124-de07-a98f-3be4d1400000&nname=politico-toplines&nrid=571ff611-7b2b-4cdb-b049-d7c5ae475def
Man Pardoned By Trump Sentenced to Jail For New Crimes, Including Alleged Sexual Abuse
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/man-pardoned-by-trump-sentenced-to-jail-for-new-crimes-including-alleged-sexual-abuse/
Who has President Trump pardoned and why?
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/10/nx-s1-5587875/trump-pardons-insider-political-orbit-second-term
Bar complaint against Lindsey Halligan spotlights ‘egregious circumstances’ but faces hurdles
https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/lindsey-halligan-bar-complaint-comey-james-trump-rcna243439
Trump Attack Dog Issues Dozens of Subpoenas to His Enemies
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-attack-dog-issues-dozens-of-subpoenas-to-john-brennan-and-other-enemies/
DOJ's No. 2 frames legal fight as "war" on judges, state bars
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/09/doj-blanche-war-activist-judges-dc-bar-associations
Make No Mistake: This Is One of the Most Serious Developments of Trump’s Second Term
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/10/trump-doj-james-comey-letitia-james-john-bolton-revenge.html
A Defying Strategy: How Lower Courts Are Playing The Long Game Against Trump
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-defying-strategy-how-lower-courts-are-playing-the-long-game-against-trump_n_69134fc4e4b0ff332f7d65f3?origin=home-zone-b-unit
Why I Am Resigning: A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/11/federal-judge-resignation-trump/684845/
The Federal Judiciary Is Trapped
Trump’s lawlessness demands judicial courage and candour. Federal judges got the memo. SCOTUS is asleep at the switch.
https://slate.com/podcasts/amicus/2025/11/from-trumps-tariffs-to-the-national-guard-and-ice-federal-courts-are-fighting-back
These Judges Are Warning Us We’re on the Fast Track to Martial Law
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/10/trump-news-judges-warning-martial-law.html
The DOJ has been firing judges with immigrant defense backgrounds
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/06/g-s1-96437/trump-immigration-judges-fired
The DOJ Lied Its Way to Victory in a Key Trump Case. It Just Got Caught in Court.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/10/doj-trump-lie-portland-national-guard.html
Judge blasts Trump’s Chicago border ‘Blitz,’ extends curbs on use of force that ‘shocks the conscience’
https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2025/11/06/judge-sara-ellis-operation-midway-blitz-tear-gas-deportation-campaign
Judge rules Trump administration failed to meet legal requirements for deploying troops to Portland
https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-portland-oregon-trial-d0c6ebe5980b315f7f0688032100c6bc
Federal Judge Uses Trump’s Own Words to Prove DOJ Was Defying His Court Order
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/11/federal-judge-trump-words-doj-snap-order.html