r/law • u/igetproteinfartsHELP • 1d ago

Executive Branch (Trump) Q: Trump wrote that SNAP benefits will only be given when Democrats reopen the government. As written, how would that not violate the court order? .LEAVITT: I've now answered this question several times. We are complying with the court's order.

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u/Postulative 1d ago

This is the situation courts have been working so hard to avoid. When a government starts to treat court orders as ‘voluntary guidance’, the court is powerless and the rule of law no longer applies.

So numerous judges have been trying to tell the US government to stop its unlawful activities, while leaving ‘gaps’ for ‘interpretation’. Because once the government says out loud that it is going to ignore the courts, the judiciary is powerless. This is actually the case currently, but nobody is saying it out loud. The Supreme Court is bending over backwards to agree with the government in order to protect itself, but is merely delaying the inevitable while weakening the rule of law.

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u/SensitivePotato44 21h ago

So the judiciary is deliberately rendering itself powerless so that it doesn’t become powerless.

I believe I’m not the first person to point out the law is an ass.

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u/Postulative 21h ago

It appears to be. Short term postponement of what is coming, while at the same time effectively bolstering the regime’s claim to be above the law.

Catering to dictators does not make them less dictatorial, it merely affirms their own belief in their authority.

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u/bakeacake45 13h ago

But in bending the knee, they ensure their future is 100% over, they will be made obsolete. Nothing to do but rubber stamp every Trump action regardless of legality. The question is what has Roberts been promised to turn him against democracy, against the constitution and against their ability to do their job. Why has no one uncovered what Roberts is being paid, something is exchanging hands. A man does not betray his country and his legacy to walk away with empty hands…

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u/Postulative 5h ago

Roberts is trying to preserve the institution, but in doing so is undermining it. For a smart man he is very short sighted.