What happens if a president and the federal government fail to follow a judge's orders?

[Wicked Blue]

"David Noll, a professor at Rutgers Law School, noted in a recent Democracy Docket article that federal rules appear to allow judges, if needed, to bypass the marshals and hire other parties to enforce their contempt rulings."

NBC
April 15, 2025, 10:33 PM EDT
By Lawrence Hurley and Ken Dilanian

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has been accused of ignoring or flat-out defying recent federal court orders, including a Supreme Court decision that it must “facilitate” the release of a Maryland man who was sent in error to a Salvadoran prison.

The federal judge presiding over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case Tuesday chastised the administration for its inaction.

“I’ve gotten nothing,” said Judge Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Court for Maryland. “I’ve gotten no real response and no real legal justification for not answering.”

More at
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/president-defies-judges-orders-contempt-rcna201455

[JBTaurus83]

1. Thank you for this

What a great read. I had been wondering what could be done and I was aware that the occupier of the White House could call off the US Marshall's. He wouldn’t care if it may break a law. He would just litigate that and drag things out another ten years.

What I found interesting here is that a court could use local law enforcement or other entities.

[Wicked Blue]

2. You're welcome. This is the question I've been asking for weeks

and it's been keeping me up at night.

[JBTaurus83]

3. Hopefully

It doesn’t take someone another five years to take the necessary actions due to “precedent”, or something else. The fascists don’t care about any of that.

[usonian]

4. K&R

This is the most information I've seen on the topic ever.

Thanks for posting. I followed links!

[stopdiggin]

5. there is no practical enforcement mechanism

And anyone that is spinning out 'alternative' scenarios - wherein supposedly a handful of specially deputized 'other parties', are going to march over to Justice and start making arrests - is essentially just sprinkling the air with fairy dust ...

While wasting your and my time.

[Irish_Dem]

7. It is not a waste of time for people to do the jobs they are paid to do.

And to stand up for rule of law, justice, and the constitution.

It also would highlight the lawless nature of Trump and his crime syndicate.

When we stop fighting we have lost the plot.

Calling fighting the good fight just delusional fairy dust is an insult to people doing the right thing.

[stopdiggin]

9. selling 'alternatives' such as outlined here

Is the very essence of wasting our time.
And if stating so in very plain fashion is somehow 'insulting' to you or somebody 'doing the right thing' (whatever you imagine that to be) ... So be it.
I'll repeat, "There is no viable enforcement mechanism here." NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN.

This poster refusing to play along with these little games of make believe. But thanks.

[Silent Type]

6. Not sure this has ever been necessary before, but hope Congress and/or courts come up with a solution soon.

[Orrex]

8. The "solution" for the GOP Congress is to let Trump get away with everything forever

[Paladin]

10. What happens? Not much, evidently. (nt)

[lees1975]

11. All citizens should be subject to the same penalties for violating the law.

If you or I defy a court order, we would go to jail until we comply.

No cooperation, no justification for not doing so is not adhering to the rule of law. Jail his ass.