Thank you for always providing clear commentary on the legal landscape. I hope this attack on the judiciary is strengthening the resolve of judges to stand firm on the law. At this point, even SCOTUS has to see that this administration has stomped all over the constitution and has limited credibility.
In Poland, an authoritarian government took steps to control their judges. The judges reacted with a March of 1000 Robes to support constitutional protections. Since we have a larger country, it wouldn't be hard to have a march of 10,000 robes down the National Mall in Washington DC.
The video of the Polish March of 1000 Robes is worth watching:
That’s an understatement! Trump and his shady accomplices plotted IN ADVANCE to violate our Constitution and the rights of countless citizens and legal residents. It was all premeditated and relentless up to and including contempt of a Supreme Court order!
Years ago, I served as a state prosecutor assigned to the domestic violence docket. More than once, defendants in my courtroom had ICE detainers. The federal agents would make sure to coordinate carefully with the judge and with my office so as not to interfere with the operations of the court, and the reason was obvious—if undocumented immigrants feared voluntarily appearing in state courthouses, whether as defendants, victims, or witnesses, the state justice system could not function effectively. To be clear: I had no difficulty with the arrest and detention of violent abusers, nor did the judges before whom I appeared; but none of us wanted that to happen visibly in our courtroom. The judge in this case appears to have been doing nothing more than performing her duties and exercising her discretion to ensure the effective administration of justice in her courtroom. This arrest reflects a fundamental ignorance of and indifference toward the actual administration of justice.
Expanding a bit on your excellent point: One suspects the Trump admin planned the underlying arrest of this immigrant to show that state and local prosecutors and judges were letting violent “illegals” walk free right under their noses, but that Trump would be putting a stop to that. These courthouse arrests are propaganda events the Trump admin stages to embarrass state and local government officials who do not want to use their resources to advance Trump’s partisan immigration agenda.
So much of what the Trump admin does is designed to produce a confrontation or a capitulation that will become a spectacle. In allowing the immigrant to leave through her courtroom’s side door, the judge acted well within her inherent authority to protect her court from being used as the setting for a partisan made-for-Unreality-TV circus.
Exactly right. ICE demonstrated no concern with the enforcement of state criminal laws, just making their quota.
Side note: deportations do not make us safe as tens of thousands of deportees manage to sneak back in every year. As recently as 2024 there were 20k prosecutions for reentry after deportation per 8 USC 1326, by hiring smugglers, bribing border patrol, hiding in cars or trucks, using fake ID, etc. the immigrant here had been previously deported in 2013, but got back to the US.
At minimum we need to let state criminal courts impose state penalties. Unlikely that will happen here now that ICE made their arrest.
"Bondi responded to the statement by stating that everyone is entitled to their day in court but reiterated that so are victims of crimes.
'They didn't get it because she let a criminal defendant walk out a door. She helped them. She obstructed justice,' Bondi told Phillips."
But when Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on many serious charges against the citizens of New York, Bondi had no problem dismissing those charges on the direction of President tRump.
What about the rights of the citizens of New York to get their day in court Ms. Bondi?
I want to thank you for your courage to stand up to this administration when so many are intimidated and changing their normal behavior to avoid problems. Trump has effectively intimidated congress and some judges. They enable trumps abusive tactics. Enabling bullying only increases their beliefs that intimidation and threats are the preferred weapon of choice. I was able to see a time you struggled on how much to do but quickly made the right choice. I have followed your efforts since the first impeachment hearings. I will continue to count on your continued efforts to keep others informed of the truth.
It seems the ones violating the law and Constitution are the ones sworn to uphold them and enforce them. I’ve heard Andrew and Joyce, in particular, refer to DOJ headquarters as Main Justice, I think it needs to be relabeled Main unJustice.
If the marshals or agents who received orders to arrest the judge were have to refused, based on their duty to uphold and protect the Constitution and the law, then other agents who question the legality of Trump-regime orders might have been inspired to follow suit. Imagine how quickly Trump’s coup would fail if all of them were to refuse orders from this oath-breaking executive branch. Some may agree with Trump team’s agenda- they would be complicit oath-breakers. Some may have families to protect from intimidation- their predicament is understandable. Whenever a single DOJ employee refuses to comply with unlawful orders, they become a courageous hero deserving of our respect.
We can encourage people to refuse illegitimate orders by publicly applauding those who do so. Thanks for a protest sign idea: Dear Federal Employees, have courage! Refuse illegitimate orders. Be heroes for democracy 🗽⚖️🇱🇷👏
I’m not an expert, but have read that an order that is anti-Constitutional would fit. General Milley could have declined to accompany Trump on his photo-op field trip through a crowd of peaceful protesters that Trump had sprayed with- what was it? Pepper spray? The General knew that spraying crowd-control chemicals on peaceful protestors was a violation of the rights of free speech and assembly. He later regretted having obeyed Trump’s wish. I don’t know if that was an order or a request, but with Trump there might not be a difference.
Terrorizing the Judiciary & ‘We the People’ is most irritating!!!
Additionally, Pam Bondi & Kash Patel each day in every way prove themselves to be incompetent, disqualified & cruel people who never should have been approved nor nominated for the crucial protective positions they hold.
The Trump admin’s plan for the timing and location of the underlying arrest of the immigrant was chosen, not for safety purposes, but for PR purposes. Arresting the immigrant as he emerged from this judge’s courtroom was calculated to send a message that state authorities were letting illegals walk free right in front of their noses, but Trump’s admin was putting a stop to that laxity.
The Trump admin’s plan to arrest immigrants in a state courthouse was clearly calculated to embarrass state authorities. The Trump admin always tries to create a made-for-TV spectacle to advance its anti-immigrant demagoguery.
Every judge has inherent authority to run her courtroom in a way that protects its operation, decorum, and integrity to prevent the court from being manipulated to advance a partisan political agenda. If I were this judge, I would not allow the doors into my courtroom to be used as a backdrop for Trump’s Unreality Show.
For a person to be publicly arrested—probably violently arrested—the moment that person emerged from her courtroom would reflect poorly on her court as a forum where the force of reason, not physical force, wins the day. To avoid having her court being used for a partisan political spectacle, the judge’s decision to allow the immigrant to leave from a side door was a decision well within her inherent authority to run her courtroom as she saw fit.
Are there laws that stipulate police, ICE agents, FBI, etc. MUST show identification (badges, marked vehicles, jackets, etc.) when they apprehend and detain anyone? How can masked, unidentified people abduct people in the USA ?
Just watched 2 men from "ICE" arrest a man ( a clip on Maddow Show) .. they were masked refused to show IDs in street clothes and handcuffed this man and took him away... our police in all these illegal grabs need to stand up and fight back... refusing to show id being masked is an abduction those city police should taz those kidnappers and put them in jail to sort this out..... let's find out who's got our backs NOW
Yes I suspect that they deliberately set out to interfere with the proceedings before a Judge who had ties to the Democratic Party and to Immigration issues before she won election to the bench. .The ugly question is how did they learn that this particular individual was going to be in HER Court on that day and that time. I think the Wisconsin AG needs to see whether the local Republican is leaking information to ICE and take appropriate action
Court schedules and proceedings calendars in Wisconsin are primarily accessible online through the Wisconsin Court System website. This includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. You can also find information on specific county court schedules and proceedings through their websites.(GoogleAI). I would assume witness schedules are determined by the lawyers. In this case, he was a Defendant.
Thank you, Andrew, for your invaluable perspective. It's clear that Patel and Bondi's celebration of this arrest points to this being very intentional. The objective is to threaten all judges with this stunt. It's one piece in a comprehensive strategy to humiliate, degrade, frighten, and cow anyone who can threaten them. The only way to beat this is by uniting and fighting back.
It appears every thing Trump and his team do for publicity are things he has actually done himself. Attacking Act Blue for International funding is frightening Dem candidates. Can’t we loudly call out DT’s grifting and grabbing from Corporations and other Countries preferably in cartoons and photos? Again, there should be known facts before Federal Investigations.
Thank you for always providing clear commentary on the legal landscape. I hope this attack on the judiciary is strengthening the resolve of judges to stand firm on the law. At this point, even SCOTUS has to see that this administration has stomped all over the constitution and has limited credibility.
Kathleen Weber
As Time Goes By
1h
In Poland, an authoritarian government took steps to control their judges. The judges reacted with a March of 1000 Robes to support constitutional protections. Since we have a larger country, it wouldn't be hard to have a march of 10,000 robes down the National Mall in Washington DC.
The video of the Polish March of 1000 Robes is worth watching:
America’s March of 1000 Robes: A Way Out
https://kathleenweber.substack.com/p/americas-march-of-1000-robes-a-way
That’s an understatement! Trump and his shady accomplices plotted IN ADVANCE to violate our Constitution and the rights of countless citizens and legal residents. It was all premeditated and relentless up to and including contempt of a Supreme Court order!
reported
They’ve been all over Substack. This is my 3rd spam report.
Years ago, I served as a state prosecutor assigned to the domestic violence docket. More than once, defendants in my courtroom had ICE detainers. The federal agents would make sure to coordinate carefully with the judge and with my office so as not to interfere with the operations of the court, and the reason was obvious—if undocumented immigrants feared voluntarily appearing in state courthouses, whether as defendants, victims, or witnesses, the state justice system could not function effectively. To be clear: I had no difficulty with the arrest and detention of violent abusers, nor did the judges before whom I appeared; but none of us wanted that to happen visibly in our courtroom. The judge in this case appears to have been doing nothing more than performing her duties and exercising her discretion to ensure the effective administration of justice in her courtroom. This arrest reflects a fundamental ignorance of and indifference toward the actual administration of justice.
Exactly.
Expanding a bit on your excellent point: One suspects the Trump admin planned the underlying arrest of this immigrant to show that state and local prosecutors and judges were letting violent “illegals” walk free right under their noses, but that Trump would be putting a stop to that. These courthouse arrests are propaganda events the Trump admin stages to embarrass state and local government officials who do not want to use their resources to advance Trump’s partisan immigration agenda.
So much of what the Trump admin does is designed to produce a confrontation or a capitulation that will become a spectacle. In allowing the immigrant to leave through her courtroom’s side door, the judge acted well within her inherent authority to protect her court from being used as the setting for a partisan made-for-Unreality-TV circus.
Yes, the Trump Administration seems to be lacking in truthfully appearance, relying on lies and media review to carry the truth.
Exactly right. ICE demonstrated no concern with the enforcement of state criminal laws, just making their quota.
Side note: deportations do not make us safe as tens of thousands of deportees manage to sneak back in every year. As recently as 2024 there were 20k prosecutions for reentry after deportation per 8 USC 1326, by hiring smugglers, bribing border patrol, hiding in cars or trucks, using fake ID, etc. the immigrant here had been previously deported in 2013, but got back to the US.
At minimum we need to let state criminal courts impose state penalties. Unlikely that will happen here now that ICE made their arrest.
It's interesting that AG Bondi said this:
"Bondi responded to the statement by stating that everyone is entitled to their day in court but reiterated that so are victims of crimes.
'They didn't get it because she let a criminal defendant walk out a door. She helped them. She obstructed justice,' Bondi told Phillips."
But when Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on many serious charges against the citizens of New York, Bondi had no problem dismissing those charges on the direction of President tRump.
What about the rights of the citizens of New York to get their day in court Ms. Bondi?
I want to thank you for your courage to stand up to this administration when so many are intimidated and changing their normal behavior to avoid problems. Trump has effectively intimidated congress and some judges. They enable trumps abusive tactics. Enabling bullying only increases their beliefs that intimidation and threats are the preferred weapon of choice. I was able to see a time you struggled on how much to do but quickly made the right choice. I have followed your efforts since the first impeachment hearings. I will continue to count on your continued efforts to keep others informed of the truth.
It seems the ones violating the law and Constitution are the ones sworn to uphold them and enforce them. I’ve heard Andrew and Joyce, in particular, refer to DOJ headquarters as Main Justice, I think it needs to be relabeled Main unJustice.
Thank you Andrew! Your explanation was helpful. There’s so much being reported locally here in Wisconsin. DOJ is out of control and dangerous!
US AG Bondi is out of control and may be impeachable at this point. Kash can follow close behind.
Impeachment is now dead as a door nail. Beth, I like your thought though!
Do tell….
How concerned should we be about the actual FBI agents who are participating in this madness?
If the marshals or agents who received orders to arrest the judge were have to refused, based on their duty to uphold and protect the Constitution and the law, then other agents who question the legality of Trump-regime orders might have been inspired to follow suit. Imagine how quickly Trump’s coup would fail if all of them were to refuse orders from this oath-breaking executive branch. Some may agree with Trump team’s agenda- they would be complicit oath-breakers. Some may have families to protect from intimidation- their predicament is understandable. Whenever a single DOJ employee refuses to comply with unlawful orders, they become a courageous hero deserving of our respect.
It would be nice to have people who don’t “just follow orders…”
We can encourage people to refuse illegitimate orders by publicly applauding those who do so. Thanks for a protest sign idea: Dear Federal Employees, have courage! Refuse illegitimate orders. Be heroes for democracy 🗽⚖️🇱🇷👏
Officers in the Military can refuse “an Unlawful Order.” Now what constitutes an Unlawful Order?
Not "can refuse". Must refuse.
I’m not an expert, but have read that an order that is anti-Constitutional would fit. General Milley could have declined to accompany Trump on his photo-op field trip through a crowd of peaceful protesters that Trump had sprayed with- what was it? Pepper spray? The General knew that spraying crowd-control chemicals on peaceful protestors was a violation of the rights of free speech and assembly. He later regretted having obeyed Trump’s wish. I don’t know if that was an order or a request, but with Trump there might not be a difference.
Like Germans in WWll
VERY!
Very
Thank you Andrew Weissman.
Terrorizing the Judiciary & ‘We the People’ is most irritating!!!
Additionally, Pam Bondi & Kash Patel each day in every way prove themselves to be incompetent, disqualified & cruel people who never should have been approved nor nominated for the crucial protective positions they hold.
Hello Congress, Supreme Court & Mr President.. what’s wrong with you?
The Trump admin’s plan for the timing and location of the underlying arrest of the immigrant was chosen, not for safety purposes, but for PR purposes. Arresting the immigrant as he emerged from this judge’s courtroom was calculated to send a message that state authorities were letting illegals walk free right in front of their noses, but Trump’s admin was putting a stop to that laxity.
The Trump admin’s plan to arrest immigrants in a state courthouse was clearly calculated to embarrass state authorities. The Trump admin always tries to create a made-for-TV spectacle to advance its anti-immigrant demagoguery.
Every judge has inherent authority to run her courtroom in a way that protects its operation, decorum, and integrity to prevent the court from being manipulated to advance a partisan political agenda. If I were this judge, I would not allow the doors into my courtroom to be used as a backdrop for Trump’s Unreality Show.
For a person to be publicly arrested—probably violently arrested—the moment that person emerged from her courtroom would reflect poorly on her court as a forum where the force of reason, not physical force, wins the day. To avoid having her court being used for a partisan political spectacle, the judge’s decision to allow the immigrant to leave from a side door was a decision well within her inherent authority to run her courtroom as she saw fit.
I wonder, did they have photographers on hand? Or alert local news media?
Are there laws that stipulate police, ICE agents, FBI, etc. MUST show identification (badges, marked vehicles, jackets, etc.) when they apprehend and detain anyone? How can masked, unidentified people abduct people in the USA ?
And - are they supposed to recite the Miranda rights?
Just watched 2 men from "ICE" arrest a man ( a clip on Maddow Show) .. they were masked refused to show IDs in street clothes and handcuffed this man and took him away... our police in all these illegal grabs need to stand up and fight back... refusing to show id being masked is an abduction those city police should taz those kidnappers and put them in jail to sort this out..... let's find out who's got our backs NOW
I wonder if these are real ICE agents or trump's private militia. If everything is above board, why are they masked and not identifiable?
Thanks Andrew for the update and info on this case. It is indeed scary stuff! Stay safe!
It seems to me that ICE and the FBI were interfering in her court cases and proceedings not the other way around.
Yes I suspect that they deliberately set out to interfere with the proceedings before a Judge who had ties to the Democratic Party and to Immigration issues before she won election to the bench. .The ugly question is how did they learn that this particular individual was going to be in HER Court on that day and that time. I think the Wisconsin AG needs to see whether the local Republican is leaking information to ICE and take appropriate action
I think hearings are matter of public record. My question is how were the able to have DEA, ICE and the FBI there to arrest one guy. I smell a rat.
Hearings are sometimes a matter of public record but usually the witness sxchedule is NOT public precisely to protect the integrity of the process
Court schedules and proceedings calendars in Wisconsin are primarily accessible online through the Wisconsin Court System website. This includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. You can also find information on specific county court schedules and proceedings through their websites.(GoogleAI). I would assume witness schedules are determined by the lawyers. In this case, he was a Defendant.
Exactly
Thank you, Andrew, for your invaluable perspective. It's clear that Patel and Bondi's celebration of this arrest points to this being very intentional. The objective is to threaten all judges with this stunt. It's one piece in a comprehensive strategy to humiliate, degrade, frighten, and cow anyone who can threaten them. The only way to beat this is by uniting and fighting back.
It appears every thing Trump and his team do for publicity are things he has actually done himself. Attacking Act Blue for International funding is frightening Dem candidates. Can’t we loudly call out DT’s grifting and grabbing from Corporations and other Countries preferably in cartoons and photos? Again, there should be known facts before Federal Investigations.
In Jan of this year, on my own tiny Substack, I warned my few subs that this day was coming: https://williamnfordes.substack.com/p/uncivil-disservice