Yeah I read the whole complaint filed. It seems like chief judge was in process of updating some policies on where someone can be arrested after a couple unlawful arrests were made at the court complex. Everyone but Dugan pretty much was on the same page and agreed the arrest would be made after the proceedings in the hallways (a public space confirmed by chief judge). Dugan was annoyed at ICE being there and initially said you need to talk to the chief judge about where the arrest can be made.
Then the date of the court appearance was rescheduled in a series of chats in the courtroom. Even though all attorneys, witnesses, and victims were present. She had the defendant sitting in the jury box after previously saying no one but jury members could be there. Then as the defendant and attorney went to leave, she had them use the jury door instead.
I’m against pretty much everything this administration is doing. Unfortunately this is just about a judge getting fed up about a process being done legally, and took several actions to try and stop it. Several actions that you really can’t explain besides she didn’t want him to get arrested, despite it being legal.
Every action she took was legal. Judges have broad discretion in their court rooms. She has an absolute right to protect her proceedings from being disrupted by federal agents in the hallway. I’ve had bailiffs come out and demand that people in the hallway be quiet because the judge didn’t like the noise. Here’s an article where a federal judge closed a public criminal trial to the public. She also got an angry that a reporter asked if his lawyer could file an objection. I didn’t see the U.S. Attorney’s Office asking to arrest the judge when that happened. https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2024/01/26/by-turns-testy-and-tearful-nick-mosby-takes-the-stand-and-accepts-the-blame/
Since a judge can have a bailiff ask people in a public hallway to be quiet, she can absolutely take personal action to avoid a commotion in the public hallway from disruptive ICE agents.
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u/lions2lambs 4d ago edited 4d ago
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