ABA Grant Withdrawal by Trump Administration Halted by Judge (1)

A DC federal judge ordered the Justice Department to temporarily freeze its moves to terminate grants to the American Bar Association.

The order comes after a May 12 hearing at which Judge Christopher Cooper peppered both sides with queries into jurisdiction and the change in the Justice Department’s priorities. Cooper granted the ABA’s request for a preliminary injunction, writing in an opinion that the government does not meaningfully contest the merits of the ABA’s First Amendment retaliation claim.

The ABA, represented by Democracy Forward, sued the Justice Department over $3.2 million worth of terminated grants on April 23, saying the ...