A federal judge has dismissed an unprecedented Justice Department lawsuit filed against the entire federal district bench in Maryland.
The lawsuit stemmed from two standing orders issued in May by Maryland Chief Judge George L. Russell III, which slowed the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate deportations. The Justice Department argued the orders interfered with President Donald Trump’s ability to enforce federal immigration laws.
A federal judge on Tuesday threw out an aggressive, unusual lawsuit the Trump administration brought earlier this year against all 15 federal judges in Maryland, rejecting a bid by the Justice Department to limit court power in fast-moving immigration cases.
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) August 26, 2025
The opinion on… pic.twitter.com/EHnxYs5aoA
Because the lawsuit targeted all 15 Maryland judges, Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee from Virginia, presided over the case. In his ruling, Cullen emphasized that the executive branch must pursue proper legal channels, such as appealing the orders, rather than suing an entire district court.
“Whatever the merits of its grievance… the Executive must find a proper way to raise those concerns,” Cullen wrote. The decision underscores the limits of inter-branch disputes when it comes to judicial independence and immigration enforcement.
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TIPP Staff
