Trump Justice Department Engaged in Unconstitutional Retaliation, Federal Judge Rules

Strategic Insights -

A federal judge has concluded that the Trump Justice Department likely engaged in unconstitutional retaliation when it canceled grants to American Bar Association (ABA) programs that assist victims of domestic violence. The preliminary order requires the Trump administration to pay out $2 million in grant funding to the programs, which provide training to lawyers who work with victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The judge's ruling is the latest example of a court pushing back on President Donald Trump's efforts to target the legal industry for opposing his agenda.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump Justice Department likely engaged in unconstitutional retaliation when it canceled grants to ABA programs assisting victims of domestic violence.
  • The preliminary order requires the Trump administration to pay out $2 million in grant funding to the programs.
  • The judge concluded that the terminations were connected to the ABA's involvement in a lawsuit challenging a Trump freeze on foreign assistance, amounting to retaliation of speech protected by the First Amendment.
  • The case is the latest example of a judge pushing back on President Donald Trump's efforts to target the legal industry for opposing his agenda.
  • The Trump administration claimed in court filings that the grants were canceled because they were "no longer aligned with DOJ's priorities", but the judge found that the government failed to identify any nonretaliatory DOJ priorities.
  • Similar programs continued to receive funding, suggesting that the justification for canceling the ABA grants was pretextual.
  • An attorney for the Justice Department struggled with the judge's line of questioning during a hearing, stating that he was not authorized to comment on similar Department of Education grants.

Statistics:

  • $2 million in grant funding owed to the ABA programs
  • 100% of ABA grants canceled by the Trump Justice Department
  • 0% of non-ABA grants canceled, despite similar programmatic objectives
  • 1 federal judge has thwarted the Trump administration's efforts to target the ABA

Sources:

  • Tierney Sneed and Emily R. Condon, CNN (CNN) — (CNN) —
  • Democracy Forward
  • US District Judge Casey Cooper
  • Department of Justice (memo barring DOJ lawyers from participating in ABA events)