February 13, 2025

Can courts force Trump to obey the law?

NPR -  President Trump has signed dozens of executive orders in less than a month in office, and courts are now pushing back. One of the central roles of U.S. federal courts is to review the executive branch's implementation of federal law. Executive branch employees are expected to comply with court orders and existing legal roles — but that's mostly relying on good faith and tradition, according to UCLA law professor Blake Emerson. What happens if the president ignores these court orders? Several legal experts break it down:

 ⚖️ Courts can force compliance through fines, sanctions, finding someone in contempt or even jail time. Some experts, like retired federal judge Nancy Gertner, view these options as empty threats. 
⚖️ The U.S. Marshals Service — which is part of the Department of Justice — could enforce a judge's order, Gertner added. But the president could direct the Justice Department not to comply. 
⚖️ Courts ultimately have few ways to punish a president for ignoring their rulings, but Congress still exists to intervene, according to Kristin Hickman, a professor of administrative law at the University of Minnesota. However, opposition is unlikely since Republicans control the House and Senate.

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