Desperate Trump Sues Every Judge After Big Losses

Summary

In-Depth Analysis of Trump's Legal Actions Against Maryland Judges on Legal AF by MeidasTouch

Introduction

In the June 27, 2025 episode of Legal AF by MeidasTouch, host Michael Popak delivers a comprehensive examination of a significant legal confrontation between the Trump administration and the federal judiciary. Titled "Desperate Trump Sues Every Judge After Big Losses," the episode dissects the administration's unprecedented lawsuit targeting all federal judges in the District of Maryland, including the Chief Judge. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

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Background of the Lawsuit

Michael Popak opens the discussion by outlining the breadth of the Trump administration's legal offensive. The administration has filed lawsuits against every federal judge in Maryland, a move characterized as a "broadside attack." This collective litigation represents a strategic effort to challenge judicial decisions unfavorable to the administration's policies.

Notable Quote:

"Trump administration has filed a lawsuit, a broadside attack on all of the judges of the District of Maryland." ([02:30])

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Allegations and Legal Basis

At the core of the lawsuit are allegations concerning a standing administrative order issued by Maryland's Chief Judge. This order aims to preserve federal court jurisdiction over immigration cases by preventing the Trump administration from transferring detainees outside the continental United States. The administration contends that this order hinders their ability to manage immigration enforcement effectively.

Key Points:

• Standing Order: Prevents removal of detainees outside the continental U.S. within two business days of a habeas corpus petition.
• Administration's Stance: Accuses the judiciary of overstepping by imposing what they interpret as an injunction rather than an administrative stay.
• Legal Reference: Popak mentions "28 USC Section 292," which governs the selection of out-of-district judges for such cases.

Notable Quote:

"Upon the filing of a petition for writ of habeas corpus on behalf of an alien detainee, the government are enjoined and restrained from removing petitioners in such cases from the continental United States..." ([02:30])

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Impact on Judicial Independence

Popak emphasizes the potential ramifications of the administration's actions on judicial independence and the broader rule of law. By suing all judges in a specific district, the administration is seen as attempting to undermine the judiciary's autonomy and retaliate against decisions that impede their policies.

Key Points:

• Judicial Autonomy: The lawsuit threatens the principle that judges operate independently of executive pressures.
• Rule of Law: Raises concerns about the erosion of checks and balances inherent in the U.S. governmental system.
• Precedent Setting: Such actions could set a dangerous precedent for future executive-judicial conflicts.

Notable Quote:

"This is a perfect example of an administrative stay being issued by a judge to temporarily hold the ring to give them time in order to determine whether they have jurisdiction." ([02:30])

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Specific Cases Highlighted

Popak references previous incidents to illustrate the administration's pattern of challenging judicial authority. Notably, the Kilmer Abrego case is cited, where detainees were reportedly sent to El Salvador without due process, highlighting efforts to bypass federal jurisdiction.

Key Points:

• Kilmer Abrego Case: Demonstrates the administration's attempts to relocate detainees to limit judicial oversight.
• Judge Zinnis's Role: Central figure in maintaining jurisdiction and resisting the administration's attempts to undermine court orders.
• Whistleblower Evidence: Reference to a 28-page letter by Erez Reuveni, alleging that DOJ officials instructed falsifications to federal judges.

Notable Quote:

"Maryland has a lot of experience with Donald Trump trying to take human beings, kidnap them, hijack them and send them off outside of federal jurisdiction." ([02:30])

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Legal and Political Implications

The episode delves into the broader legal and political consequences of the administration's lawsuit. Popak discusses how the selection of an out-of-district judge, as mandated by 28 USC Section 292, may bias the proceedings in favor of the administration due to the political leanings of judges in the Fourth Circuit.

Key Points:

• Out-of-District Judge Selection: Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit selects a judge from states like North Carolina or West Virginia, potentially disadvantaging Maryland judges.
• Legal Representation Changes: Judges must now retain external law firms, distancing them from the Department of Justice.
• Assault on Rule of Law: Portrayed as part of a broader strategy to intimidate and control the judiciary.

Notable Quote:

"So it sits in the Fourth Circuit. The chief judge of the Fourth Circuit then looks at judges within the Fourth Circuit, but not in Maryland... which already is an advantage to Donald Trump because those judges are going to be more purple and more red, so to speak." ([02:30])

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Conclusion and Future Outlook

Popak concludes by framing the administration's lawsuit as a severe threat to judicial integrity and the rule of law. He underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and reporting, encouraging listeners to stay informed through the Legal AF YouTube channel and Substack for updates on the case's progression.

Notable Quote:

"This is yet another example of it. So we'll continue to follow it right here on the Midas Touch Network and on Legal AF." ([02:30])

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Trump administration has filed a lawsuit, a broadside attack on all of the judges of the District of Maryland." ([02:30])
• "Upon the filing of a petition for writ of habeas corpus... the government are enjoined and restrained from removing petitioners..." ([02:30])
• "Maryland has a lot of experience with Donald Trump trying to take human beings, kidnap them, hijack them and send them off outside of federal jurisdiction." ([02:30])
• "The chief judge of the Fourth Circuit... which already is an advantage to Donald Trump because those judges are going to be more purple and more red." ([02:30])
• "This is a perfect example of an administrative stay being issued by a judge to temporarily hold..." ([02:30])

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Final Thoughts

The episode of Legal AF presents a critical analysis of the Trump administration's legal strategies against federal judges in Maryland. Popak articulates concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the potential long-term effects on the American legal system. By providing detailed explanations and contextual examples, the episode serves as an essential resource for listeners seeking to understand the complexities and implications of this legal confrontation.

Transcript

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[Michael Popak]

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[Captain]

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[First Mate]

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[Michael Popak]

Over.

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[Michael Popak]

Trump administration has filed a lawsuit, a broadside attack on all of the judges of the District of Maryland. All federal judges have now been sued, including the Chief Judge. The allegations in the complaint are that there is a standing order administrative order put in place by the Chief Judge in order to ensure and preserve the jurisdiction of federal courts before the Trump administration, as they have done dozens and dozens and hundreds of times, takes those people away from federal court jurisdiction and puts them in foreign countries. And the standing order says effectively that if a alien, a migrant, files after hours, particularly a writ of habeas corpus petition to be heard by a federal judge about their liberty, about their status, that at least for two business days, that person will remain. And the Trump administration is blocked from transferring them not within the continental United States, outside the continental United States, putting them outside of the jurisdiction of federal courts. It's a way for the federal court to temporarily, like an administrative stay, to preserve its jurisdiction until it holds the hearing and figures things out. Trump administration doesn't like that. Trump administration wants to move these human beings around in the middle of the night from Maryland to Texas, get them out of free thinking states, get them over to red states to get better judges and play the shell game with human beings. So now they have sued all of the judges of Maryland, including Judge Zinnis, who I'm going to talk about in a little bit. Who hears that kind of case. If you're suing all the judges, what judge actually hears the matter? I'm going to break it down for you right here on the Midas Dutch network in Legal af. I'm Michael Popak. All right, here we go. So there was a little covered administrative order that effectively creates a stay temporarily for 48 hours. And what's the basis of it? The basis of it is that we have seen, and all the federal judges have seen, including up to the United States Supreme Court, that Donald Trump will move people from state to state in the middle of the night. He did it. He did it with all the people, all the graduate students he picked up in New York. He'll move them out of the country to third party countries like El Salvador and other places where he will then say they are outside the the jurisdiction of the federal courts. That is Donald Trump's number one argument. These people can't be heard from. We moved them. We might have done it illegally, but now they're in a foreign country. And the federal courts, led by the chief judge in Maryland, made a decision that at least for the first 48 hours, this person's not going anywhere. He can be moved or she can be moved within the continental United States, but can't be moved away and outside the powers and tried to get away purposely from the jurisdiction of the federal court. Here's what the standing order that we're talking about says is on paragraph 34 of the lawsuit. Upon the filing of a petition for writ of habeas corpus on behalf of an alien detainee the government are enjoined and restrained from removing petitioners in such cases from the continental United States or, or altering their legal status, provided that petitioner's full name and alien number have been provided to the court either in the petition or in a separate filing. The standing order provides its term shall remain in effect until 4pm on the second business day following the filing of the petition, unless now extended by a judge assigned to the case. Donald Trump then goes off on a whole sort, a whole set of prejudices. He says his, his immigration policy will suffer because he can't move these people out of the country and away from federal jurisdiction. They tried to argue in their complaint this is effectively an injunction, not an administrative stay. Even though I would argue that it is. Even though it says enjoined and restrained. I get the language, but it's really in the, in the, it's in the. It's a perfect example of an administrative stay being issued by a judge to temporarily hold the ring to give the them time in order to determine whether they have jurisdiction. It's hard to do it if the person was already in El Salvador, so to speak. And Maryland has a lot of experience with this because they are the jurisdiction with Judge Zinnis that has been dealing with the Armando Abrego Garcia, the Kilmer Abrego case, where he was sent over a objection over an order of immigration judge to El Salvador without due process, in violation of his rights and illegal under an order, and then stayed in El Salvador for two months with Donald Trump telling the world he'll never bring him back, that the courts don't have jurisdiction over him, even though the Supreme Court said that they did nine zero and then finally brought him back, you know, like three weeks ago to stand charges for some indictment in Tennessee. So that is Judge Zinnis and she is currently considering whether to find the Trump administration in contempt and the Department of Justice in contempt. And we now have a whistleblower 28 page letter, single spaced. Erez Reuveni, who used to work for the Department of Justice, the ultimate insider in immigration litigation, who details how he was instructed to lie to federal judges, including Judge Zinnis, and that the administration has been lying and telling a federal court judge to go f off. Those are the words of Emil Bove, a number three lawyer, the Department of Justice, Donald Trump's former criminal defense lawyer, who's sitting today in a series of confirmation hearings about whether he should have a lifetime appointment on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. So let's just say Maryland has a lot of experience with Donald Trump trying to take human beings, kidnap them, hijack them and send them off outside of federal jurisdiction. And so ultimately, I do not see this administrative state order as being violative of constitutional principles or a certain case we call Niken n I K E N or Nikken, which is the factors for an injunction because it's temporary in nature, it's an administrative stay only and there's no irreparable harm suffered by the Trump administration. Now, who hears a case where he has sued each and every one of the federal judges in Maryland, including the chief judge? Well, there's a rule for that. It effectively says under 28 USC Section 292 of the, of the United States Code that a out of district judge will be picked by the chief judge of the appellate court in which this court sits. So it sits in the Fourth Circuit. The chief judge of the Fourth Circuit then looks at judges within the Fourth Circuit, but not in Maryland, such as in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia or West Virginia, picks a judge there, which already is an advantage to Donald Trump because the, those judges are going to be more purple and more red, so to speak, than the Maryland federal judges. And a judge there has to hear this matter. This should be thrown out almost immediately. But here another example where now the federal judges have to retain a lawyer, a law firm to represent them who's not in the Department of Justice, some other independent law firm is now going to have to be hired to represent their interests. And before another judge picked by the chief judge of the 4th Circuit that probably sits someplace like North Carolina or West Virginia to hear this matter, it's just another example of the Trump administration's full blown assault on the rule of law. And now they're suing judges. Why not? They put elected officials, they've indicted elected officials and arrested them. They've taken senators down to the ground and put them in handcuffs. They've, they've, they've arrested mayors, all Democrats. They've arrested judges. Hannah Dugan in Wisconsin, indicted, arrested, perp walked. This is yet another example of it. So we'll continue to follow it right here on the Midas Touch Network and on Legal AF. Come over to the Legal AF YouTube channel. Hit the free subscribe button. I'll be posting regular updates and to this particular case, when the judge is selected, when the first turn happens in the proceedings, come here on Legal AF on the Midas Touch Network to learn more about it. So until my next report, I'm Michael Popox.

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