Judge Thomas Cullen of the Western District of Virginia voiced skepticism toward the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) arguments during a hearing concerning a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration against all 15 Maryland federal judges. The case challenges a court order that imposes an automatic two-day pause on deportation cases when they are initially filed. Cullen, a Trump appointee, expressed doubts early in the hearing, suggesting the DOJ’s position may lack legal merit. The lawsuit represents a significant test of judicial independence, as the administration seeks to challenge the authority of the courts to impose such procedural measures.
Cullen, who is presiding over the case in Baltimore due to the recusal of Maryland’s judges, stated he would issue a decision by Labor Day on whether to block the standing order. DOJ attorney Elizabeth Hedges argued that the Maryland court’s order had the effect of