Our first legal action is part of the ACLU's Seven-Point plan to fight back against the Trump administration when it seeks to violate the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. The plan is supported by our new Constitution Defense Fund, established after the election, to provide the manpower and resources necessary to take on the most powerful government on earth. Going forward, the ACLU's plan of action includes concrete steps to:
1. Demand government accountability and transparency
File Freedom of Information Act requests
Defend whistleblowers and journalists who rely on them.
2. Protect the rights of immigrants
Mount rapid response to immigration raids
File systemic litigation to challenge Fourth Amendment violations and racial profiling in street-level immigration enforcement
Develop legal theories to defend sanctuary cities against federal action
Represent “Dreamers” when their status comes under attack
Bring systemic litigation to challenge excessive and punitive immigration detention
Challenge unconstitutional immigration policies that discriminate against Muslims
3. Defend reproductive rights
Oppose efforts to defund Planned Parenthood
File litigation to challenge any new federal restrictions on abortion access
Challenge laws that permit the use of religion to discriminate by allowing health care providers and social service agencies to turn women away when they seek reproductive health care services or information
Challenge abortion restrictions at the state level through litigation and advocacy
Challenge existing restrictions on abortion that are more vulnerable to challenge following the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt
4. Protect First Amendment rights
Respond aggressively to threats against Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities
Expand efforts to defend and inform protestors through know-your-rights materials, provide legal observers at protests and file lawsuits to protect protestors
Fight dragnet government surveillance that sweeps up innocent Americans’ information
5. Defend LGBT rights
Fight the rescission of federal LGBT protections
Sue the Department of Defense if it reinstates the ban on open military service by transgender people
Oppose religious exemption measures both in state legislatures and Congress that discriminate against LGBT individuals
Fight anti-transgender rights bills in Congress and in state legislatures
6. Defend core civil rights and civil liberties from erosion
Identify, investigate, and challenge the worst police departments for Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment violations
Intervene in federal consent decrees with police departments and private employers regarding racial and gender discrimination
Litigate against the worst voter suppression measures
7. Mobilize the American people
Deploy our 750,000 card-carrying members in direct citizen action, including protests, petitions, and lobbying
Raise $100 million for a Constitutional Defense Fund in support of this plan — $47 million of which has already been raised
The ACLU's charge, laid out in the Seven-Point Plan, is to stand ready to confront any unconstitutional elements of the administration's agenda — today on day one and for every day after for the next four years.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
Money and lawyers are pouring in. The ACLU has raised $47MM today alone. There are lawyers deployed at every major airport with detainees.
As for guns, the pen is mightier than the sword. I'll stick with that.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
BoSoxGal wrote:ACLU reporting a federal judge in NY just issued a stay on the immigration EO!
Can Trump sign executive orders arbitrarily removing a federal judge from his or her seat on the bench?
I'm certain he will probably try to do it, but can he do it legally, i.e., in keeping with the Constitution?
And since you know wes won't post this one, I will....
-"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
Bicycle Bill wrote:
Can Trump sign executive orders arbitrarily removing a federal judge from his or her seat on the bench?
I'm certain he will probably try to do it, but can he do it legally, i.e., in keeping with the Constitution?
No. That's the primary reason federal judges have lifetime appointments: so they don't have to worry about their jobs when making decisions that might piss off the other branches of government.
Bicycle Bill wrote:
Can Trump sign executive orders arbitrarily removing a federal judge from his or her seat on the bench?
I'm certain he will probably try to do it, but can he do it legally, i.e., in keeping with the Constitution?
No. That's the primary reason federal judges have lifetime appointments: so they don't have to worry about their jobs when making decisions that might piss off the other branches of government.
Federal judge can only be removed via impeachment. However federal Magistrate judges are subject to renewal, their appointments are not lifetime (same with the Bankruptcy judges -- they are creatures of federal law, not the Constitution). And funding for the judiciary could be throttled, attempting to limit their effectiveness. If there was no money for clerks, security, and other support, the courts would have a difficult time getting their work done.
It's a serious concern with the King Trumpanzee. Apparently his budget is going to cut Legal Services. I wouldn't be surprised if he also cuts support money for the courthouses and does whatever petulant thing he thinks he can do, to retaliate.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
"John Marshall has made his decision. Let him enforce it"
The real power of the Supremes rests on the willingness of the people to go along with their decision, even if they don't like it.
That is respect. Respect must be earned and can be used up foolishly. That is why Mr. Dooley said 'the Supreme Court reads the newspapers.' I hope the Supremes are better at detecting fake news than the voter.
Until tonight it was not unreasonable to wonder whether the scientists, the National Parks Service and the good wonky people of NASA, would be alone on the hustings defending the basic existence of facts and truth. Today the lawyers joined the fight. Donald Trump has no idea how terrifying a blue book and a Lexis password can be. He’s about to find out.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
Until tonight it was not unreasonable to wonder whether the scientists, the National Parks Service and the good wonky people of NASA, would be alone on the hustings defending the basic existence of facts and truth. Today the lawyers joined the fight. Donald Trump has no idea how terrifying a blue book and a Lexis password can be. He’s about to find out.
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant, and fill him with a terrible resolve." .... attributed to Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto following the Pearl Harbor attack
Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it. -"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
I keep asking this question. What does Extreme Vetting mean? How is it different from the rigorous screening process currently in place? Who does it? What assets do they have available? Where does the information come from? Who pays for it? Wouldn't that require legislation?
During the campaign, in a speech in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump called for “extreme, extreme vetting.” He said the extreme vetting would be designed to keep out anyone who does not share “American values” and who is not prepared to “embrace a tolerant American society.”
Trump said that until such a test is in place, America should suspend immigration from Muslim countries.
And so here we are.
Now what are “American values”?
Be specific. Tell me what American values are. Give me a list. A list that applies to every American. One we all agree on.
Come now, this should be easy. This is the basis of the whole damned thing. So, tell me, who decides what is American and what isn't? And what is it that makes up an American? Give me a specific list, point by point. Show your work.
Now -- NOW -- once you have that list, you tell me how to TEST each potential immigrant for those values.
What?
No. I'm dead serious. You tell me how you test a human being for ... what? Love of baseball, mom, and Apple Pie? Tolerance? Patriotism?
Tell me how you do that.
Please, by all means you tell me how to do that. BE SPECIFIC.
And while you're at it, show me how your tests are different, better, more effective, than what we currently have in place. Where does the information come from? What assets do the Chekas have at their disposal? How will they be trained, the Chekas? Who pays for it? Does this new system of Extreme Vetting require legislation? If not? WHY not?
These questions seem to me not unreasonable.
They should be put to President Trump and his Administration by the Press and hammered hard until the citizens of the United States get some goddamned answers.
People who are wrong are just as sure they're right as people who are right. The only difference is, they're wrong.
— God@The Tweet of God
Here is what's currently in place, the system Donald Trump wants to improve. (As noted elsewhere, the process currently typically takes at least 2 years.)
People who are wrong are just as sure they're right as people who are right. The only difference is, they're wrong.
— God@The Tweet of God
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
Just in case you may not have noticed, that tweet from Pence is 14 months old (Dec 8th, 2015).
Now, if he had tweeted (or re-tweeted) it since Friday, that would be something else again. -"BB"-
Yes, I suppose I could agree with you ... but then we'd both be wrong, wouldn't we?
Last edited by Guinevere on Sat Feb 04, 2017 4:02 am, edited 2 times in total.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
