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Judge holds MAGA Florida attorney general in contempt for defiance
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams found firebrand Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in civil contempt Tuesday for defying an April order.
Earlier this year, The Independent reports Williams banned the enforcement of a Florida law making undocumented immigrant travel a misdemeanor while the contested law is being challenged in court. But Uthmeier sent out a notice to Florida law enforcement telling them he personally disagreed with the order, calling it “both wrong on the merits and overbroad on its scope,” according to court documents. The AG added that his office will “continue to press these scope-of-relief arguments in the district court and, as appropriate, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.”
Later, in a follow-up memo, Uthmeier told officers he “cannot prevent [them] from enforcing” the challenged laws.
“It is my view that no lawful, legitimate order currently impedes your agencies from continuing to enforce Florida’s new illegal entry and reentry laws,” he wrote.
Weeks later, the court demanded of Uthmeier why he should not be held in contempt or sanctioned over his texts, but the AG claims he hadn’t technically violated William’s order because he does not personally enforce the contested law. That duty falls to officers.
Earlier this year, The Independent reports Williams banned the enforcement of a Florida law making undocumented immigrant travel a misdemeanor while the contested law is being challenged in court. But Uthmeier sent out a notice to Florida law enforcement telling them he personally disagreed with the order, calling it “both wrong on the merits and overbroad on its scope,” according to court documents. The AG added that his office will “continue to press these scope-of-relief arguments in the district court and, as appropriate, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.”
Later, in a follow-up memo, Uthmeier told officers he “cannot prevent [them] from enforcing” the challenged laws.
“It is my view that no lawful, legitimate order currently impedes your agencies from continuing to enforce Florida’s new illegal entry and reentry laws,” he wrote.
Weeks later, the court demanded of Uthmeier why he should not be held in contempt or sanctioned over his texts, but the AG claims he hadn’t technically violated William’s order because he does not personally enforce the contested law. That duty falls to officers.
https://www.alternet.org/district-judge-kathleen-williams-contempt/