𧨠They Just Took the Courtâs Teeth Out â Quietly
The press will show up when the clashes start. But will they cover what caused them?
Iâve spent decades fighting a government that doesnât always play fairâand doesnât always follow the law. The one thing thatâs kept them in check? The courts.
Veterans like me know what it means to finally get a ruling in your favor. To have a judge say, You were wronged. This stops now. But what happens when the government can just ignore that order? No penalties. No contempt. No consequences.
Thatâs exactly whatâs buried in the latest House spending billâa provision that strips federal courts of their power to enforce injunctions or restraining orders unless a bond was posted when the order was issued.
That may sound technical. Itâs not. Itâs dangerous. And it should be front-page news.
Where is the press?
đ¨ Why Thatâs a Threat to Civil Liberties
1. It Undermines Court Enforcement of Rights
Most civil rights cases donât require bonds. Courts often waive them when plaintiffs are challenging government abuses.
Without contempt power, agencies like ICE, the VA, or local police can ignore orders to stop unconstitutional actions.
Example: A judge blocks an illegal deportation or bans police from using tear gas on peaceful protestors. If that order canât be enforced, itâs just paper.
2. It Weakens the Separation of Powers
Courts are supposed to keep the executive and legislative branches in check.
This provision disables that checkâhanding more unchecked power to those already abusing it.
3. It Chills Public Interest Litigation
Nonprofits, civil rights lawyers, and broke plaintiffs donât have bonds to post.
This will deter lawsuits before they startâand embolden those who violate rights knowing the courts canât stop them.
4. It Creates a Two-Tiered Justice System
Wealthy plaintiffs get rulings that bite. Poor plaintiffs? Just paper.
Thatâs not justice. Thatâs a legal system priced for the privileged.
It violates equal protection under the 14th Amendment.
đ§ A Historical Reminder
In Brown v. Board of Education, federal judges used contempt power to force Southern school districts to comply with desegregation orders.
Now imagine if those school boards couldâve just said, No bond was posted. Weâre not complying.
Thatâs the future this bill sets up.
The press will cover the next standoff, the next ignored court order, the next time a federal agency crosses a legal line and dares a judge to stop them.
There will be headlines. There will be outrage.
But where are they now?
This isnât an if story. Itâs a now story. And itâs getting buried beneath the noise.
Journalists: if youâre waiting for flash bangs and barricades, youâre too late. The real story is happening right nowâon page 1,067 of a budget bill.
Thatâs where civil liberties go to die these days.
đ Itâs one more reminder:
Weâre not imagining things. The battlefield has changed.
If the courts lose their teeth, theyâre not courts anymore.
And if the press stays silent, we all lose.
đŁ Take Action: Ask the Press to Cover This Story
If we wait until the clashes start, the headlines will come. But by then, the damage will already be done.
Letâs get this in front of journalists and networks before itâs too late.
đŚ Tag the News Networks on X (Twitter)
𧾠Tag the News Networks on Bluesky
đ¸ Tag Them on Instagram or Facebook
Not sure what to say, use this:
A clause buried in the House budget bill could gut federal courtsâ ability to enforce their own ordersâespecially in civil rights cases.
No enforcement = no justice.
No contempt power = no consequences.
Why isnât this front-page news?
Read and share: https://www.tbirdsquietfight.com/p/they-just-took-the-courts-teeth-out
#TbirdsQuietFight #CivilLiberties #PressMustCoverThis