Ethics
Florida AG held in civil contempt for disobeying order; ‘litigants can’t change the plain that means of phrases,’ decide says
June 18, 2025, 2:05 pm CDT
Florida Lawyer Basic James Uthmeier speaks throughout a gathering on the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, on March 5, 2025. (Picture by Rebecca Blackwell/The Related Press)
A federal decide held Florida Lawyer Basic James Uthmeier in civil contempt of courtroom Tuesday for disobeying an order briefly blocking a state immigration regulation.
U.S. District Choose Kathleen M. Williams of the Southern District of Florida mentioned Uthmeier disobeyed her directive to supply precise discover of a short lived restraining order to regulation enforcement businesses with energy to implement it.
The April 18 TRO had blocked a regulation that made it a state crime for immigrants within the nation to illegally enter Florida.
The choice was a “uncommon and forceful rebuke,” in accordance with a June 17 press launch by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, one of many teams representing the plaintiffs.
The New York Instances, Law360, the Tampa Bay Instances and NBC Information are among the many publications masking Williams’ June 17 order.
Williams issued the TRO after discovering that the Florida regulation was seemingly preempted by federal regulation. She later issued an injunction, which the eleventh U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals at Atlanta refused to disturb, in accordance with Law360.
At first, Uthmeier advised regulation enforcement businesses about Williams’ order. Then, in an April 23 letter, Uthmeier mentioned he thinks that Williams’ order can’t bind impartial regulation enforcement businesses as a result of they aren’t events to the case.
“No lawful, reliable order presently impedes” enforcement of the unlawful entry regulation, Uthmeier mentioned within the letter.
Williams mentioned Uthmeier additionally “publicly disavowed” his compliance a number of occasions, stating that he wouldn’t “bow down” to the courtroom.
Williams had argued that Uthmeier’s letter was supposed to elucidate his authorized views and to maintain regulation enforcement knowledgeable of litigation updates. Williams mentioned Uthmeier was twisting the that means of his phrases.
“Litigants can’t change the plain that means of phrases because it fits them, particularly when conveying a courtroom’s clear and unambiguous order,” mentioned Williams, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. “Constancy to the rule of regulation can haven’t any different that means.”
Williams dominated a number of weeks after a listening to by which she mentioned “anarchy” could be the outcome if officers comparable to Uthmeier fail to observe courtroom orders, in accordance with the New York Instances.
Williams ordered Uthmeier to file biweekly stories detailing whether or not arrests, detentions or regulation enforcement actions have been undertaken. He must also instantly notify the courtroom if he learns of arrests, Williams mentioned.
Uthmeier responded in a publish on X, previously often called Twitter.
“If being held in contempt is what it prices to defend the rule of regulation and stand firmly behind President Trump’s agenda on unlawful immigration, so be it,” he wrote.
The case is Florida Immigrant Coalition v. Uthmeier.
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