The judge who halted Trump’s travel order
Judge James Robart wore a bow tie to the hearing, opened with a joke and finished with a thunderclap. He was known for that sort of thing.
“The amicus law professors,” Robart said, noting the many groups that waited in his Seattle courtroom to argue for or against a motion to halt President Donald Trump’s travel ban. “Sounds like the three amigos.”
People laughed, despite the tension.
At the end of the hearing, with no jokes or spare words, Robart halted Trump’s ban and potentially changed the fate of tens of thousands of refugees, Muslims and others around the world who had been denied entry into the United States.
“The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes lawenforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!” Trump tweeted.
But Robart had been called judge for more than a decade. President George W. Bush nominated him to the federal court for Washington’s western district court in 2004.
Democrat Senator Patty Murray introduced him to the judiciary committee as a man who had fostered six children with his wife. Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy went over Robart’s 30 years as a lawyer.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch noted Robart’s “representation of the disadvantaged” including his work representing “southeast Asian refugees”. Robart replied: “I was introduced to people who, in many times, felt that the legal system was stacked against them or was unfair. Working with people who have an immediate need and an immediate problem that you are able to help with is the most satisfying aspect of the practice of law.”
Hatch said: “Well thank you. That is a great answer.” No one opposed his confirmation.
In his 13 years on the federal bench, the judge handed down criminal sentences no lighter than the law recommended.
His job as a federal judge got more complicated after Seattle police shot and killed John Williams — a partially deaf woodcarver who did not put down his carving knife one day in 2010.
Hundreds surrounded a Seattle police station to protest against Williams’ death, which had followed other accusations of police brutality in the city. A Justice Department investigation “found routine and widespread use of excessive force by officers,” the Seattle Times reported.
At a hearing Robart spoke of the police — training and accountability and leadership: “The men and women who go out and walk around Seattle and proudly wear the Seattle Police Department uniform. They are entitled to know what they may and may not do.” Then he spoke of protests against police that had spread across the country, and FBI statistics showing that black people are twice as likely to be shot dead by police as their share of the population would warrant. “Black lives matter,” the judge said. Robart was not done. “Black people are not alone in this. Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans are also involved. And lastly and importantly: police deaths . . . remind us of the importance of what we are doing.”
Half a year later, a country troubled by different matters waited on the judge’s word.
Robert looked down at his papers and issued his order. No one said a word. In his manner, Robart recessed and walked away.— Washington Post