The nominees for key positions at the US Justice Department have sparked concerns among Democrats that they may ignore certain court orders, sparking a debate over presidential powers and judicial authority. The nominees, two of whom have represented President Trump in the past, defended their ability to handle disputes with the president while confirming they would not follow illegal or immoral orders.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, nominee Harmeet K. Dhillon stated that it’s “hard to make a very blanket statement” about following court decisions, and nominee John Sauer said he wouldn’t make sweeping statements without examining facts and law. Meanwhile, President Trump recently suggested on social media that ignoring laws is not an issue.
The discussion was sparked by concerns over the administration’s actions, including efforts to fire thousands of federal employees. Senate Democrats questioned whether the president might disregard rulings against his favor. Conservative scholars have also criticized the federal court system for issuing nationwide injunctions restricting government actions.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/us/politics/trump-lawyers-court-orders-hearing.html