[justlurking]

The federal judge who struck down the Obama administration’s moratorium on deepwater drilling after the Gulf oil spill held the Interior Department in contempt Wednesday, and ordered the federal agency to pay attorneys’ fees for several offshore oil companies.

Yup, and this is an example of what Vinson should have done:

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman yesterday granted a preliminary injunction, halting the moratorium. He also “immediately prohibited” the U.S. from enforcing the ban. Government lawyers told Feldman the ban was based on findings in a U.S. report following the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig off the Louisiana coast in April.

Do you understand the difference? Feldman granted a preliminary injunction. Vinson didn't.

That's a big difference. Violation of an injunction carries real penalties, including prison if the judge chooses.

[MrB]

Vinson did state that an injunction wasn’t necessary,
as the law was now void,
and he had the expectation that the Executive would comply with the law.

Now, who’s gonna enforce this compliance?