Nonprofits Seek to Keep $820 Million in DOJ Grants During Appeal

A coalition of nonprofit organizations asked a federal judge to block the Justice Department’s termination of more than $820 million in grants while an appeal plays out, warning of continued harm to the communities they serve.

The nonprofits, including New-York based Vera Institute of Justice, sought an emergency injunction in a Thursday motion.

Judge Amit P. Metha on July 7 dismissed their lawsuit seeking to reinstate the grants, saying that, although the DOJ’s terminations were “unquestionably arbitrary,” “shameful,” and “unfair and indiscriminate,” the court lacked the power to intervene.

The groups’ Thursday motion is also before Mehta, and they had ...