Posted on 03/22/2017 6:25:30 PM PDT by mdittmar
SEATTLE (AP) — The chief justice of the Washington state Supreme Court on Wednesday urged the Department of Homeland Security to keep immigration agents away from courthouses, saying it's "deeply troubling" that lawyers and judges have reported seeing more of them recently.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst said the agents' presence could scare people away from courthouses, including domestic violence victims and witnesses in criminal trials.
"When people are afraid to appear for court hearings, out of fear of apprehension by immigration officials, their ability to access justice is compromised," Fairhurst wrote. "Their absence curtails the capacity of our judges, clerks and court personnel to function effectively."
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye of the California Supreme Court sent a similar letter last week. It suggested agents had been "stalking" courthouses and said, "Courthouses should not be used as bait in the necessary enforcement of our country's immigration laws."
There have been reports of arrests at courthouses in California, Oregon and Texas in recent months as President Donald Trump has called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
I think they should just tell Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst to take a flying leap.
Guess it didn’t occur to her that if they were not here illegally, they would have no fear of the law.
ICE needs to go sit in her courtroom just to make a statement.
Who needs anything but judges to rule over us???
Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, who the hell do you think you are to set policy??????????????????
Trump needs to climb the tallest building and swat some of these pretenders down. Play the national security card and move on. london and all these illegal cremes here give him the moral obligation and the constitution gives him the power.
Totally agree....
Obviously another coordinated attack on the administration.
But never criticize the judges, right!?
Because they never do anything political, doncha know...
Has the Chief Justice ever heard of the rule of law?
I live in WA - talk about activist judges, the WA Supreme Court is the worst by far in the country - total disgrace
They need to be impeached.
Dear State Judge,
STFU.
Thx,
America
Follow the money, less illegals, less need for judges and lawyers.
Same for schools and their telling ICE to stay away- follow the money, less students less govt money, less need for teachers and admins
Once again we see the judiciary act like they run the country.
Deport the jerk. Let her live with the Aleuts for a few months. Then she’ll appreciate America, nor may not. Remember, she’s a leftist judge in Washington State (which is across from Russia).
Maybe she just hates America like so many other Wash. State leftists and druggies.
The Feds need to tell these two pixies to stuff it.
West of the Cascade's is commie-central, east of the Cascade's lets just say a major difference.
I live on the west side of the Cascade's. It sucks!
The chief justice has no authority to give that order, although she is welcome to “urge” that ICE do so. I’m happy to see ICE arrest these criminals as soon as they step out of the courthouse. Give them justice, as the Chief Justice requests, but then send them home.
Sounds like a deal can be made — ICE agents don’t show up in court if LEOs collect illegal info and satisfy detainers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.