Trump officials could face criminal contempt charges, judge says

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By Caitlin Tremblay

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Trump administration officials could face criminal contempt charges for violating a U.S. federal judge's order halting deportations of Venezuelan migrants under a wartime law, the judge said on Wednesday. In a written ruling, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found "probable cause" to hold officials in criminal contempt of court, saying the administration demonstrated "willful disregard" for his March 15 order barring the government from deporting Venezuelan alleged gang members to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. Read more.

Read the ruling.

Boasberg's ruling is the furthest any judge has gone to raise the prospect of punishment since President Trump's return to the White House in January and represents an escalation of the confrontation between the judicial and executive branches. The White House said it will seek immediate appellate relief to Boasberg's ruling.

The Trump administration faces more than 150 legal challenges to policies it has enacted during its first three months. Democrats and some legal analysts have argued officials in some cases are dragging their feet in complying with unfavorable court orders, signaling a potential willingness to disobey an independent, co-equal branch of government.

In New York …

Ropes & Gray added Sarah Coyne to its litigation and enforcement practice. She previously was co-head of Weil's global white collar defense practice … Sidley hired M&A and private equity partner Demetrius Warrick from Skadden … Clifford Chance added M&A partner Robert Chung from White & Case … Alok Choksi left Haynes Boone to join Mintz as a member in the firm's securities and capital markets practice … Energy partner Jeffrey Escobar joined Sheppard Mullin from Troutman Pepper Locke … Steptoe added former assistant U.S. attorney in Connecticut, Ross Weingarten, as a partner to its white-collar defense practice … Paul Proulx moved to Pryor Cashman as a partner in its real estate group and land use and zoning practice. He joins from Carter Ledyard.

In Washington, D.C. … 

Vinson & Elkins brought on Alex Canizares as co-head of the government contracts practice. He previously was at Perkins Coie … Former DOT Deputy General Counsel Brian Stansbury moved to Hunton Andrews Kurth as a partner in the firm's environmental team … International trade lawyer Daniel Wendt joined Honigman from Miller & Chevalier … King & Spalding added Brendan Staley as a partner to its corporate practice from Hunton Andrews Kurth … James Crowley joined employment and labor law firm Littler as a shareholder from Akin Gump.

In Boston … 

Whistleblowing defense partner Gregory Keating rejoined Littler from Epstein Becker Green … Fenwick is opening an office in the city with IP partners Matthew Pavao, Heidi Erlacher and Chen Chen from Cooley.

In Los Angeles …

King & Spalding added e-discovery partner Chris Costello to its product liability and mass torts group from Kirkland ... M&A and private equity partner Deepak Nanda joined Sidley from Gibson Dunn.

In San Francisco …

Venable hired IP partner Rebecca Horton from Hogan Lovells … Frost Brown Todd added Brandon Rainey as partner to its labor and employment practice from Duane Morris … Tom Pack joined Faegre as a partner in its product liability and mass torts practice from Greenberg Traurig.

In Chicago …

Mayer Brown brought back data privacy partner Lei Shen from Cooley … DLA Piper added Matt Posthuma as a partner in its investment funds practice from Ropes & Gray.

In Austin …

Husch Blackwell hired partner Tara LeDay in its financial services and capital markets industry group from Chamberlain Hrdlicka.

In Houston …

Luke Burns moved to Holland & Knight's oil and gas practice as a partner from Reed Smith … Steptoe added professional liability trial lawyer Allison Miller as a partner from Beck Redden.

In Raleigh …

Outgoing chair of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Charlotte Mitchell, joined McGuireWoods as a partner in its energy regulatory and enforcement practice.

In Charlotte …

McGuireWoods added corporate technology partner Tara Bradley from Dentons … Glenn Siegel left Morgan Lewis to join Moore & Van Allen's bankruptcy and restructuring team as a member.

In London …

David Stewart moved to Sidley as a partner in the firm's capital markets group from Latham where he was co-chair of its London corporate practice … Crowell & Moring added AI and emerging technology partner Emma Wright, who co-founded the Interparliamentary Forum on Emerging Technologies.

In Singapore …

Shashwat Tewary joined Cooley as a capital markets partner based in the firm's Singapore office from Sidley Austin. 

And finally …

DLA Piper hired real estate partners Lewis Goss and Warren Seay in D.C. and Dallas from ArentFox Schiff.

Dozens of employees are leaving the U.S. Eenergy Information Administration, putting crucial energy data at risk, sources say … In its latest media crackdown, the White House limits newswire access to Trump … Baby food makers are failing California's lead standards, a Reuters review shows … RFK Jr plans studies to look for environmental contributors to autism … Britain's boat-dwellers are being priced off the water … An Octogenarian skater shreds concrete in Spain's Bilbao … And our top photos of the day.

caitlin.tremblay@thomsonreuters.com

@ctrembz

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