Ethics
Florida AG held in civil contempt for disobeying order; ‘litigants can’t change the plain that means of phrases,’ choose says
Florida Legal professional Common James Uthmeier speaks throughout a gathering on the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 5, 2025. (Picture by Rebecca Blackwell/The Related Press)
A federal choose held Florida Legal professional Common James Uthmeier in civil contempt of courtroom Tuesday for disobeying an order briefly blocking a state immigration regulation.
U.S. District Choose Kathleen M. Williams of the Southern District of Florida stated Uthmeier disobeyed her directive to supply precise discover of a short lived restraining order to regulation enforcement companies with energy to implement it.
The April 18 TRO had blocked a regulation that made it a state crime for immigrants within the nation to illegally enter Florida.
The choice was a “uncommon and forceful rebuke,” in response to a June 17 press launch by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, one of many teams representing the plaintiffs.
The New York Occasions, Law360, the Tampa Bay Occasions and NBC Information are among the many publications masking Williams’ June 17 order.
Williams issued the TRO after discovering that the Florida regulation was seemingly preempted by federal regulation. She later issued an injunction, which the eleventh U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals at Atlanta refused to disturb, in response to Law360.
At first, Uthmeier instructed regulation enforcement companies about Williams’ order. Then, in an April 23 letter, Uthmeier stated he thinks that Williams’ order can’t bind unbiased regulation enforcement companies as a result of they aren’t events to the case.
“No lawful, professional order at the moment impedes” enforcement of the unlawful entry regulation, Uthmeier stated within the letter.
Williams stated Uthmeier additionally “publicly disavowed” his compliance a number of instances, stating that he wouldn’t “bow down” to the courtroom.
Williams had argued that Uthmeier’s letter was supposed to clarify his authorized views and to maintain regulation enforcement knowledgeable of litigation updates. Williams stated Uthmeier was twisting the that means of his phrases.
“Litigants can’t change the plain that means of phrases because it fits them, particularly when conveying a courtroom’s clear and unambiguous order,” stated Williams, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. “Constancy to the rule of regulation can haven’t any different that means.”
Williams dominated just a few weeks after a listening to during which she stated “anarchy” can be the outcome if officers similar to Uthmeier fail to observe courtroom orders, in response to the New York Occasions.
Williams ordered Uthmeier to file biweekly reviews detailing whether or not arrests, detentions or regulation enforcement actions had been undertaken. He also needs to instantly notify the courtroom if he learns of arrests, Williams stated.
Uthmeier responded in a publish on X, previously often known as Twitter.
“If being held in contempt is what it prices to defend the rule of regulation and stand firmly behind President Trump’s agenda on unlawful immigration, so be it,” he wrote.
The case is Florida Immigrant Coalition v. Uthmeier.
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