When The Government Ignores The Courts

When The Government Ignores The Courts

Andrew Weissmann
Apr 14, 2025  #RuleOfLaw #SCOTUS #DOJ
This week, I took time to answer a pressing question many of you raised: What happens when a president simply refuses to follow the law? In the case of Abrego Garcia—a man wrongfully deported despite a court order protecting him—the government is now flouting rulings from a district court and the Supreme Court.

We are watching a potential constitutional crisis unfold in real time. I break down what’s happening—and why it matters.

P.S. Here's a NYT article, from just this morning, that El Salvador Says It Won’t Return Garcia: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04/...

Chapters:
 1. 00:00 – Introduction & Viewer Questions
Andrew introduces the topic and recurring audience concern: what happens when Trump refuses to follow the law?
 2. 00:37 – Background on Abrego Garcia Case
Explains who Abrego Garcia is and the court order that was violated.
 3. 01:52 – District Court’s Order
Breakdown of the judge’s language requiring Garcia’s return and due process restoration.
 4. 03:05 – Appeals and Supreme Court Ruling
How the case advanced through the courts, ending in a unanimous SCOTUS decision.
 5. 04:07 – Government Resistance Begins
The DOJ’s refusal to comply and the vague filings that follow.
 6. 05:15 – The Human Impact
Andrew reflects on the cruelty and moral failure of leaving Garcia imprisoned.
 7. 07:01 – Legal Power and Accountability
Details the government’s claim that Garcia is out of reach and why that’s legally questionable.
 8. 09:50 – The Constitutional Crisis
Andrew names what’s happening: a direct challenge to the authority of the courts.
 9. 12:16 – Limits of Enforcement Power
Explores why courts may be powerless and the risks of executive branch noncompliance.
 10. 15:04 – What the Court Should Do Next
Andrew offers a roadmap for what the district court could do in Tuesday’s hearing.