Overview
- A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit issued an administrative stay of Judge Jia Cobb's Nov. 20 order that had required National Guard withdrawal by Dec. 11.
- The court stressed the pause is not a ruling on the merits as it considers the administration’s request for a stay pending appeal.
- D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb's suit argues the deployments unlawfully usurp local policing authority and violate limits on using troops for domestic law enforcement.
- More than 2,000 Guard members have been deployed in Washington since August, and about 500 more were ordered after two West Virginia Guardsmen were shot near the White House; one, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, died and a suspect has pleaded not guilty.
- Parallel fights over deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland continue, with appellate rulings mixed and a Supreme Court emergency appeal pending in the Chicago case.