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2mo ago

Trump DOJ Nominees Hedge on Following Court Orders in Senate Hearing

Nominees for key Justice Department roles avoided giving definitive answers about whether officials must always comply with judicial rulings.

John D. Sauer, Aaron Reitz and Harmeet Dhillon are sworn in during their confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 26 in Washington, DC.
Trump’s solicitor general pick wouldn’t rule out defying court orders.
Dean John Sauer, President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. solicitor general, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on Feb. 26, 2025.
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Overview

  • Nominees D. John Sauer, Harmeet Dhillon, and Aaron Reitz faced Senate Judiciary Committee questions on adherence to court orders, offering ambiguous responses.
  • Sauer and Reitz suggested that exceptions to following court orders could exist in 'extreme cases,' citing historical rulings like Korematsu and Dred Scott as examples.
  • Democratic senators expressed concerns about a potential constitutional crisis if the administration disregards judicial authority, while Republican Sen. John Kennedy warned nominees against defying court rulings.
  • Vice President JD Vance and senior adviser Elon Musk have previously criticized judicial rulings that block executive actions, fueling fears of a diminished respect for the judiciary.
  • The nominees are expected to be confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate despite the contentious hearing and unresolved concerns about their positions on judicial compliance.