Sunflower
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(A note to readers: this article weaves and spins back and forth and tells a few stories at once. It talks about the mportance in satire in my and leads off by a satirical article from the great political satire site: The Babylon Bee. The article argues for a bilateral committee in Congress to investigate the judicial system. Particularly, appointed judges at the highest levels. Certainly the DC judges in the nation now. Questions about appointed status versus earned status in life. Other topics briefly mentioned. Not you’re straight forward article. But still, happy with it)
The Babylon Bee (March 28, 2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced this week that he was leaving office to take an even more powerful position as a U.S. District Court judge.
After ascending to the presidency twice in the last decade, Trump set his sights on the next rung up the political ladder, with a spot in the federal judiciary proving him with far more authority to rule the nation.
“I love being president. I’m great at it. The best our country has ever had, many people say,” Trump told the press. “But after seeing how much power those U.S. District Court judges have, I’ve decided to resign the presidency and join the judiciary. They seem to really be able to do anything they want.”
Trump announced the move after a series of sweeping rulings from judges over the last several weeks, which greatly limited the breadth of the executive branch’s powers. Trump said he’s been eyeing the move for a while and thinks he’d be a great fit as he’s already well-versed in the legal system.
“After going through all that stuff with the corrupt courts in New York, I think I have a pretty good handle on how things work,” Trump said. “There can’t be that much to it. Just bang the wooden hammer thing and create your own rules and laws all the time. Some are saying I’m going to be the best District Court judge that ever lived. I didn’t say it, but some have.”
At publishing time, Trump decided he might also try his hand at running for Congress for when he needs to have a break and take a much-needed rest from doing any work.
Memories of the LA District Court
I have a strong memory of a District Court. I went to Loyola Law School in LA the same time my good friend from high school went to UCLA Law School. His last summer, he got the prestigious position of clerking for one of the most powerful DC judges. My friend invited me up to watch the proceedings one day. It was in the US Courthouse in downtown LA.
I went in after being searched and walked towards the hearing chamber. There was a dignity and a grandeur to the halls of the building which made anyone entering question whether they were worthy of even being in the building. All high ceilings and dim rooms. Fancy things on the ceilings far away.
U.S. Courthouse / LA in the 70s
Some case over a power issue in the state. Maybe the dimness of the room was a prop to stress power issues, I quickly thought. After all, we were in Hollywood. But then I realized it was always like this. Undertakings that need the symbolism of power are often done more in more darkness than light. More silence and quiet than noise and flash. The DC system seemed like one of these neglected areas allowed to grow based on the “hands off the judiciary” concept.
I watched the case in the judge’s court that day. A brilliant judge, mind running in all directions and plugging things in to each other. And after, the quiet dismissal of all and everything is finalized. It was so differernt than the LA County Council’s office where I was law clerking for in the summer and making runs to the LA Superior Courts filing various papers. And stepping into rooms with all types of cases from murder to kidnapping, drugs, carjacking. It went on with all the trials going on.
The powerful DCs have flown under the radar of any real surveillance. And, there are always the cries of tampering with the judiciary, as if the judiciary was somehow sacred from the other branches of government, somehow immune from things that measure or “judge” this part of government. The judges are all political appointees.
Things are noisy when the old rubber hits the road in the courts of a town. But with District Courts, things have always seemed disturbingly quiet. Again, my suggestion would be a joint comminssion in Congress to examine district courts. They are becoming a huge source of “appointed” rather than “elected” leaders today. Something that has never received the attention it deserves.
Mad Magazine in the 60s
I learned more about the world in my school days from Mad Magazine than all the history, geography and Latin books I (religiously) lugged to and from school each day. My stash of Mad Magazines was always in my school bundle. What better expression to the crazy times of youth than to see Alfred E. Newman’s face staring out at you. Assuring that everything was still as crazy as ever. Despite all the rules imposed at school. The thing about MAD was that it saw the same absurdity of the present condition as I did. Alfred Newman looking back at me from the cover of te magazine. The cover and stories inside, a mirror of me at the time.
From Wikipedia. “Satire is a genre of visual, literary and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of exposing or shaming the perceived flaws of individuals, corporations, government, or society itself into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be humorous, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit to draw attention to both particular and wider issues in society.”
Satire seems to begin merging with reality these days. Something obviously absurd not long ago, seems more and more plausible. The first months of the Trump administration has given the Babylon Bee some of its greatest challenges to stay a little ahead of the magnitude and speed of changes brought by Trump against the Bureaucracy.
The Babylon Bee’s Satire / Mad Magazine in Even More of a Political Mood
Of course, much of his actions and orders are on hold now pending orders from district court judges around the nation. One judge can stop the actions of a president, like not allowing dangerous, illegal criminals to be removed from America.
The post above from the Babylon Bee offers their satirical look at the current battle between the President and District Court Judges. The DC judges currently have great power as they can stop Executive Orders and actions. So much for the separation of powers. The administration searches for a way to stop this judicial revolt. They note it must be stopped at once and not on a piecemeal basis. It drastically reduces the power of the President and relegates judges to the true rulers of America in this age of continual Lawfare.
There is no doubt that there has developed a special skill (technique/alororithm) within the Dem Party for forum shopping DC judges and for scheduling on the bench at the right time. I’m sure there are consulting firms that specialize in all of this by now. And to somehow make sure that the DC judge they want at the time is available. It has become a growing business. This network of DC judges.
Perhaps an examination of all “appointed” positions to power within American systems? Such as in the Judicial system. What is the position of appointments at various levels of the system. Particularly, at the DC level. The higher up the judges, the more “appointed” one is likely to find them. Put in place by a President as their discretion.
Such as with many judges.
The Power of District Courts
US District courts are somewhat the quiet courts of the nation. Not invoved in the wild civil casesUnlike the U.S. Supreme Court, which was expressly established by Article III of the Constitution, the district courts were established by Congress pursuant to authority delegated by Article III through the enacting of a federal statute, the Judiciary Act of 1789.
District courts are becoming a political power center for Democrats. They provide one of most effective ways for the Dems to put a hold on presidential power when they are out of power. This needs an immediate challenge to the Supreme Court and a final settlement of this growing power of district courts.
They issue few injunctions challenging a Democrat presidents. But by far, injunctions are directed at Republican presidents as statisics show. They have been used far more times to stop a Republican than a Democrat President. It is becoming a fact of government. Quietly being voted back into office almost automatically with each election. Rarely anywhere near the interests of the majority of the population. In the past 15 years of study, it is apparent that Injunctions by district courts run high against Republican presidents and low against Democrat ones.
Presidential Actions on Hold
Of course, many actions and orders are on hold now pending injunctions from district court judges around the nation. One judge can stop the actions of a president, like not allowing dangerous, illegal criminals to be removed from America.
The post below from the Babylon Bee offers their satirical look at the current battle between the President and District Court Judges. These judges currently have great power as they can stop Executive Orders and actions.
So much for the separation of powers. This judicial revolt must be put in end to all at once rather than on a piecemeal basis. it drastically reduces the effectiveness of the Executive Office and relegates judges to the true rulers of America is this age of continual warfare.
Time for Answers on DCs?
First, perhaps we must first look into the idea of how people are “appointed” to political or judicial office. Or some high-ranking office in the bureaucracy. Or perhaps court system.
One of the great powers of the President is to nominate federal DC judges.
The president under Article III of the Constitution governs the appointment, tenure, and payment of Supreme Court justices, and federal circuit and district judges. These judges, often referred to as “Article III judges,” are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
By appointing all DC judges, himself, the President – on either side – gets away from the vote by the people. The power of nominate DC judges is a power of nomination or appointment of the president.
The Appointed versus The Awarded in Life
There are two ways one might view people. The appointed versus the awarded in life. For example, I would place members of our military on the extreme of those who earn awards in life from their peers. At the other extreme, I would place the appointed positions in life. Like all of our high level judges. Is the system right?
A question might be in what industries are high in appointed people to positions of power. Where there is less public scrutiny. Sounds like an academic question yet perhaps this “appointment” of people (such as judges) need to be looked at on both sides of the aisle.
Basic questions: Should the President be able to appoint/nominate so many DC judges for Senate confirmation in the first place? Chances of getting past the Senate? The process needs examination somewhat like USAID needed examination. In fact, how much are the DCs costing taxpayers each year?
Examining The District Courts / Quiet Bastions of Judicial Power
Out of all the activity of waves on the surface of new administrations coming to power in DC, scrutiny of DC courts seems often forgotten. One assumes there was some resistance known about the Dem DC Courts by Trump administration before they came into office. There were after all, many things that Trump 47 has planned out. But the DC courts have become a stumbling block so far.
In many ways, there can be much strategy with DC courts. If one knows how to apply the strategy at the right time. There has been a coordinated group of lawyers around the nation keeping the DC courts busy with injunctions. Their timing has been almost immediate to presidential orders matched to particular DC judges. Questions of judicial ethics need to be investigated on both sides of the aisle.
An investigation by the AG of District Courts? Assume the AG has authority to do this. But is it within the Appeals Courts? An audit of them like the other offices in DC being audited. Have improper things involved in the DC court system? On both sides of the aisle? It seems important to find out. One doesn’t suggest the DCs are political. But one should at least examine figures of injunctions issued under various presidencies to stop actions. The bias is more than evident.
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Notes
An appeal to subscribers
(Matt Taibbi is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Taibbi)
Website: Racket News
MAR 29, 2025
If you’re an immigration lawyer with a sudden influx of clients facing new or exotic problems, please write to taibbi@substack.com. Frustrated by inconsistent coverage, I’m hoping to take a trip to see how programs involving “extreme vetting” of immigrants are being implemented.
An example of how hard it’s become to comment intelligently on the subject involved this week’s viral case of Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk. This morning’s New York Times story strongly implied Ozturk was arrested by masked plainclothes officers for writing a March 2024 op-ed in the Tufts Daily (an op-ed they didn’t link to, by the way). The sub-headline read:
The Trump administration said she “engaged in activities in support of Hamas.” Her friends and lawyers say all she did was co-author an essay critical of the war in Gaza.
The paper quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said, “We gave you a visa to come and study, and get a degree. Not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses.” The Times did not mention Rubio specifically added she’d been detained “not just because you want to write op-eds,” but over vandalism and “that sort of activity.” Even the ACLU’s habeas motion on her behalf ignored the Rubio quote and said “her arrest and detention appear to be based solely on her co-authorship of an op-ed.” Lawyers asserted Rubio “confirmed” she was arrested “solely because of her actual or perceived First Amendment activity.”
None of this makes what the administration is doing right, but shows how difficult it is to work out what’s going on. Rubio implied vandalism, harrassment, and other offenses in the case of Ozturk (and as many as 300 other “lunatics” whose visas he said his office has revoked), but it’s unlikely we’re going to get specific allegations in most of these cases. The Department of Homeland Security did give a statement to The Guardian that said “DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” Still, what constitutes “activities in support of Hamas”?
Is it deportation over an op-ed, or throwing someone out for other reasons, under a Bush-era law that allows the state to do so without much due process? There are degrees to things, unfortunately not clarified by coverage. Also, what other types of immigration cases are popping up, and how different are they from previous eras? If you’re in the field, please advise. I’m likely headed to Louisiana soon, but I’m interested in any case that will help elucidate these issues.
20230802 Ice Memo Constitutional Considerations Relating To Proposed Enhanced Vetting Of Aliens In
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20230802 Ice Memo Inadmissibility Based On Endorsing Or Espousing Terrorist Activity First Amendmen
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