Judge finds Florida attorney general in contempt for defying court order in major immigration case
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Florida Attorney General Held in Contempt Over Immigration Law Defiance
Above: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier answers questions during a press conference on May 19, 2025. Image copyright: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
This is another case of egregious judicial overreach by an activist Obama-appointed judge who's weaponizing the courts against legitimate state immigration enforcement. Uthmeier was simply defending Florida's constitutional right to protect its borders and support Trump's immigration agenda. Federal courts can't be permitted to micromanage state law enforcement operations.
Democratic narrative
Uthmeier's actions undermined the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for state officials ignoring judicial authority. His public boasting about violating the restraining order, while continuing to encourage law enforcement to make arrests, showed disrespect toward the constitutional separation of powers. No state official should be above federal court jurisdiction.