NEW: Judge Boasberg finds probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, malaise, in GD

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
‪@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social‬

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NEW: Judge Boasberg finds probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt for their decision not to turn the planes around on March 15.

He orders them either to fix their mistake or identify who made those decisions (presumably for further sanctions).

‪Big Cases Bot‬ ‪@bigcases.bots.law‬
·
17m
New filing: "J.G.G. v. TRUMP (Boasberg: Alien Enemies Act)"
Doc #80: Order

Download PDF | View Full Case

#CL69741724
Thumbnail of page 1 of the PDF linked above.
ALT
April 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3lmwxsd4nkc2d

Big Cases Bot
‪@bigcases.bots.law‬

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New filing: "J.G.G. v. TRUMP (Boasberg: Alien Enemies Act)"
Doc #80: Order

Download PDF | View Full Case

#CL69741724
Thumbnail of page 1 of the PDF linked above.
ALT
April 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM

https://bsky.app/profile/bigcases.bots.law/post/3lmwxj3ncm524

[Irish_Dem]

1. If I was in contempt of court, what would the judge do to me?

Related to charges I had kidnapped a man and sent him to his death.

[Ocelot II]

2. That's great, but what does it mean?

Does somebody go to jail? If so, who? The lawyers who argued the case? They'd probably just get fired from the DoJ and end up rotting in jail on their own dime.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Mueller, She Wrote w/ court doc:

Mueller, She Wrote
‪@muellershewrote.com‬
BREAKING: Judge Boasberg finds probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

April 16, 2025 at 12:23 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/muellershewrote.com/post/3lmwytg27gs2v

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Boasberg says if administration won't prosecute potential contempt, he'll appoint a prosecutor who will

This will be fun to watch. I suspect that there are plenty of attorneys including some recently fired DOJ attorneys who will be happy to take this assignment.

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Before holding anyone in contempt, he will give defs an opportunity to "purge" the contempt

The judge has found that there is probable cause to bring criminal contempt proceedings. Technically such proceedings will not take place until trump and the DOJ has a chance to purge the contempt by returning to the US the illegally transported detainees.

Link to tweet

There will not be a formal contempt trial until after the DOJ/trump has had a chance to purge the contempt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. Chief Judge Boasberg's probable cause ruling is *not* an appealable order.

Steve Vladeck
‪@stevevladeck.bsky.social‬

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Chief Judge Boasberg's probable cause ruling is *not* an appealable order.

DOJ can ask the D.C. Circuit for an extraordinary writ of mandamus, but that requires showing that the district court ruling both (1) was clearly wrong; and (2) is not otherwise capable of being remedied on a future appeal.

‪Anna Bower‬ ‪@annabower.bsky.social‬
·
1h
DOJ files notice that intends to appeal Judge Boasberg’s order finding probable cause for contempt

April 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/stevevladeck.bsky.social/post/3lmxrowzmns2o

Anna Bower
‪@annabower.bsky.social‬

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DOJ files notice that intends to appeal Judge Boasberg’s order finding probable cause for contempt

April 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM

https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3lmxpu3yf7k2v