this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2025
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The Supreme Court has long held that “a pardon cannot stop” courts from punishing cases of civil contempt. And while the marshals have traditionally enforced civil contempt orders, the courts have the power to deputize others to step in if they refuse to do so.

This authority is recognized in an obscure provision of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which govern proceedings in federal trial courts. Rule 4.1 specifies how certain types of “process” — the legal term for orders that command someone to appear in court — are to be served on the party to which they are directed. The rule begins in section (a) by instructing that, as a general matter, process “must be served by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed for that purpose.”

The next section, Rule 4.1(b), is entitled, “Enforcing Orders: Committing for Civil Contempt.” It sets some geographical limits for where “[a]n order committing a person for civil contempt of a decree or injunction” may be served based on the federal vs. state nature of the underlying lawsuit. But it does not say who may enforce such an order, and it never modifies the general rule that process may be served by a marshal, deputy marshal or person specially appointed for that purpose. Thus, by its plain terms, Rule 4.1 contemplates that the court may appoint individuals other than the marshals to enforce civil contempt orders.

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250317014025/https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/if-the-marshals-go-rogue-courts-have-other-ways-to-enforce-their-orders/

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[–] nul42@lemmy.ca 3 points 20 hours ago

There is a case from Canada that might be of interest as well. supreme court vs. army https://youtu.be/7CbM10vGrQE

[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 68 points 2 days ago

Man I completely forgot about the Court's ability to deputize.

Something tells me that it was intended that I forget that.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 54 points 2 days ago (3 children)

And when the courts go rogue they can deputize .. Anyone. Like Andrew Tate, or elon.

Monkey paw urges caution

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Fuck that. That monkey paw bullshit is how the courts were stacked in the first place... Because Democrats are too busy pretending to be the adults in the room to recognize the game has changed

We have to use the tools we're given, or we hand a self described King all power

Not to mention, if this was a tool MAGA had use of, they'd use it with or without precedent

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Being pragmatic and realistic is not all sunshine and lollipops. Sometimes it is. These days the sun hates us and the lollipops are 100%plastic.

You already have a king. You had one when his followers declared him god king emperor. It.wasn't defeatist to try to sway people against him by warning of what the inevitable outcomem of.his reelection. Was it? Warning is not complying

It is warning.

J
F
C

The tools are not within the scope of the rules of the game.

Relying on rules while the bad guys relied on the good guys adhering to decorum is why we are here.

The institutions are being destroyed, their function and.power coalesced.

Do not hope an abstract concept of laws and justice will bring salvation or that they are finished perverting every noble intent and.safety mechanism.

I don't know why you're arguing with me.

Seriously, read my comments.

Tell me what I am.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 21 hours ago

You're hostile to so many people who pointed out the obvious flaws in your logic.

I read your comments.

You're incapable of self-reflection and incapable of admitting you're wrong. Pathetic.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't think you're on the wrong side, I think you're advocating to hold back on using a tool that can be used, right now, to mitigate some of the most terrible shit that can be done to a group of people by a government

But even forgetting what's at stake... Do you think there are no checks on this power? Do you think it isn't used already? There was a case last year where a judge ordered a custom bat mobile or something, and was unhappy he hadn't received it yet. The local cops flew across state lines and seized one in front of the judge in line. The judge ended up balking at using this legal argument, but it was discussed, and the opinion was that the judge had no legal basis for it anyways. I don't remember the resolution, but the judge was in danger of losing his robes over it

There's petty tyrants everywhere... The police are generally enablers of it to start with. Judges are still beholden to oversight, aside from the supreme court apparently

And back to where we are... Things aren't just going to go back to normal in two or four years. We're over the cliff, they're disappearing people and throwing them into what legally classifies as torture with no due process. They're trampling over the courts and the constitution - there's no going back from that, only forward

This isn't the time to tiptoe carefully around. It's not time to come up with reasons to let them continue to act, even if there's problems to work out later

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca -2 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Nowhere did I say anything about not defending.

Nowhere did I say anything about not going on offence.

Nowhere didi say do nothing

Nowhere did I say sit back and wait.

Nowhere.

I said what is likely to happened and presented facts as they are. And what the Rs would do, have done.

How people have chosen to interpret things I wasn't thinking or saying is their fault.

In other posts I've advocated, very aggressively, in many ways, for learning defense, learning offense, ways to organise, etc.for helping others in need, encouraging those with the capacity to fight to fight and not embarrassing others who cannot.

Nowhere do i ever say lay down and die.

Ever.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Just stop already. You presented no facts about deputizing. You speculated, wrongly, and were corrected. You even mentioned the monkey paw, which is just nonsensical fantasy. The burden of communication lies on you. If you failed to convey your meaning then that's your fault, not ours.

And we aren't reading your other posts, we are reading here.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Okay, then in that light, do you still think we need to be cautious in having the courts appoint people outside the executive branch to enforce their orders?

Like I said, I don't think you're on the wrong side, but I think this is a bad take. This is one of the last checks on Trump's power, and no telling if it's actually used... But it seems like caution is the absolute last thing we need to be advocating for right now

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca -2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Cautious in the sense of being aware of what could happen. Not letting it. Not not preventing it. Not doing nothing.

That's what caution means. To be aware and take action needed due to impending danger.

If things are left to the system to decide, well, look where that got us.

People need to do something. Beyond signs and marches.

That's why the lady's of liberty or whatever have taken over school boards. Etc.

The left protests.

The right has done.

Protests and marches and reliance on the system will not work unless and until the people reinsert themselves and take direct action.

The checks are ignored and balances have need weighed to one side.

I didn't say don't do things. All I said was beware what the other side has done, can do, and will do.

And prepare and act accordingly.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Okay, but that's kinda my point... It's bad messaging

You provided a reason not to "do", regardless of what you meant by that.

We don't need to hesitate, it's not the time to be careful. MAGA doesn't function on the openings we create - they create their own openings, their own lies about what the left is

We can't be like the Democrats - the people don't want the adults in the room who carefully avoid breaking things. The majority hates the Democrats more than ever

The people want change. They want a movement that will make enemies. That's what most of the right wants too - they want to stop Trump and Musk, they want free healthcare, they want to afford housing, and most of all they want to hope for a better future

We need to move fast without hesitation to fight back, otherwise we'll never keep up. We don't need to worry about breaking things - things are plenty broken already.

We'll fix them and patch up the holes, but first we have to win

[–] kibiz0r@midwest.social 31 points 2 days ago

Marshals can also deputize, and they’ve already deputized Elon’s private security.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 20 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Nah, that's nonsense. Trump controls umpteen kinds of law enforcement already anyway; he doesn't need to deputize anything.

Your comment is just fearmongering to discourage resistance against his tyranny.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Your comment is just fearmongering to discourage resistance against his tyranny.

A lot of that going around lately, including telling people that the way they plan on resisting is "doing it wrong."

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There's huge amounts of tone-policing anytime someone mentions active resistance or even non-compliance. Well, they might see some things that offend their delicate sensibilities, so they should stay home and let serious people deal with matters by any means necessary.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I've actually dealt with the opposite from keyboard warrior freedom fighters who chide me for wanting to do things like create parallel systems of mutual aid so that when the violence inevitably comes we have systems to support and take care of one another.

To quote a recent reply to me:

Think Blackwater is really going to let you have your little garden?

Not everyone has the capacity to be a fucking freedom fighter. Many of us are already physically disabled but these fucking chumps want me to go buy a gun, figure out how to afford training somehow even though I'm in poverty, and storm the capitol or some stupid shit.

Guess what, chumps, it takes a diversity of tactics and you need support systems like community doctors and community food to keep anything and anyone alive. You can't fucking eat bullets, but I guess I'm stupid for wanting to have a plan.

serious people deal with matters by any means necessary.

Precisely, serious people have plans and don't run in guns blazing like Meal Team Six.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

No. Akshually, I keep having comments removed for urging resistance.

It isn't trump who would be deputizing.

When shit hits, though, it won't matter who is deputized.

It'll be us vs them.

But, like you said, they basically control LEO. From FBI to marshalls and on down to the already rogue constitutional sherrifs.

In the meantime, do you think certain judges having the ability to deputize literally anyone for civil matter won't also be weaponized?

Such as in cases of pardons, or the media, or congress, where the magats will likely lay ridiculous charges on anyone and then have the trump appointed maga judges annoint and send forth their crusaders.

Caution is warranted. There is danger in this power. And we know who will use it.

Edit: wanna complain about my assessment?

Do something to stop it. Stop them. Fucking do something. Anything.

The dems won't. The feds won't.

Only those who do will.

Fight back.

Courts and.laws mean.nothing now.

Understand that.
That is reality.

[–] Shiggles@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The judges already have the power and legal precedent to do so. The trumplets have already demonstrated zero care about needing either of those things, so I’m really not seeing what you hope to achieve by not using one of the few legal avenues actual consequences could be enacted on the fascists is?

Whatever you let them do, they will. stop complying with fascism.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca -4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The fuck you on?

You're arguing a point I didn't even make.

I'm not complying. I'm fucking warning. Know what to expect. Jfc . you really like to be mad at your allies.

Anyway. Good luck.

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

So your point is that they'll do it too.

But if we don't do it, they'll still do it.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 22 hours ago

That's exactly their point yet somehow they fail to understand.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca -2 points 23 hours ago

That's not anything close to what I said.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

You aren't the voice of reason here. Caution is no longer warranted. If you intend to continue fear mongering, just stop talking. You have a defeatist mentality and we do not need it.

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We're very near the point where the only options are to resist, or to passively wait until they come for us (or in hopes that someone else will risk their neck to do the right thing). It's a bleak choice, but that is the choice.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 22 hours ago

Sadly this is true. I'm not sure what to do. All my options have failed spectacularly and I'm just one person.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca -3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It is a warning, an educated expectation to prepare for likely outcomes.

If you aren't prepared for likely futures you aren't preparing.

Seeing the possible uses and outcomes is not defeatist. It is awareness.

Warning: bridge out You may drown, crash, etc

Yep, Defeatist.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not a warning, not educated. Just foolishness. The other user already told you about deputizing and how you are wrong. You have the same mentality as the current Democrats in office - do not use the avenues available to you in fear they will be used against us.

They are already being used against us.

We are already crashing.

You are advocating for weakness. Like that user said, stop complying with fascism and expecting a better outcome.

Yes, defeatist.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca -1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

You are reading what you want to hear.

That is not what I said.

At all.

[–] TiggerYumYum@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

I can read pretty well, thank you. And not just me, others have commented saying the same thing.

Your position is "we shouldn't do this, be cautious because it might be used against us".

It's already going to be used against us. Everything is being used against us.

Admit to yourself that you have a self-defeating position and move on. I'm not wasting anymore time on your stubbornness.

[–] einlander@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

But that's not an originalist thing to do. At least 2 Supreme Court justices think this way.

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

They don't, really. They're just charlatans.