Breaking - Florida AG held in contempt of court for flouting court order

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/18/florida-attorney-general-contempt-immigration-arrests

A federal judge in Miami held Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, in contempt of court for continuing to enforce an immigration law she blocked, and bragging about it in media interviews afterwards.

District court judge Kathleen Williams pointed to Uthmeier’s defiance in a scorching ruling on Tuesday afternoon that accused the Republican of twisting words in her April stay of a February law making it a state crime for undocumented aliens to enter Florida.

“Respect for the integrity of court orders is of paramount importance,” Williams, a Barack Obama appointee, wrote.

The contempt finding is the latest episode of an escalating power struggle between rightwing politicians and the courts, which have blocked several of Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies at the national level.

[Skittles]

1. we all know what would happen if WE defied a court order

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

[Snarkoleptic]

2. LOCK HIM UP! (see, it works both ways)

n/t

[surfered]

3. Is there any penalty?

[madville]

6. No, it's civil contempt

The judge is making him give weekly updates on any cases of the law being used in FL while the lawsuit is ongoing. She basically assigned him extra homework.

[SheltieLover]

4. Limp dick finger wag & stern statement?

[Figarosmom]

5. I saw no sanctions or punishment

Issued with it. And the guy said he will keep defying the order.

[madville]

7. It's civil contempt

She basically assigned him extra homework, his office now has to report weekly if any law enforcement in FL enforced the state law in question.

[Figarosmom]

8. Of which he said he

Has no intention of doing.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

9. She can then start fining him

And she can double the fine everyday until he complies. Civil contempt can be made very expensive and Bondi's DOJ has no role in enforcement.

[slightlv]

12. Which they will keep refusing to accept, let alone pay.

It will become a matter of who's going to flinch first. And usually, it's the side of right and truth that flinches, which is why we're in this mess in the first place. They keep pushing the "do not cross" line and we end up letting them go on doing whatever they want to do. It's been that way for decades. Under the label of "tolerance" for one... I say we jettison that word wherever they are concerned from this point on. Otherwise, it's to the firing squads and work camps we'll go.

[madville]

11. The federal court can't do much to him criminally

Because this DOJ would most likely decline to prosecute him for a criminal contempt charge. If the court appointed a special prosecutor from outside the DOJ then Trump could pardon him. Until the SCOTUS says otherwise the President’s power to pardon would easily negate any federal criminal legal action.

[TheRickles]

13. Add to your final sentence:"...any federal criminal legal action against anyone, ever."

[spanone]

10. K&R