The state Senate Committee on Judiciary passed a concurrent resolution calling on President Donald Trump, and all members of any current or future administration, to abide by the laws of the United States and comply with orders issued by U.S. courts.

What You Need To Know

  • The resolution was introduced last month by judiciary committee chair Sen. Karl Rhoads in response to the Trump administration’s open defiance of recent court orders, including injunctions against the freezing of federal funds and the suspension of refugee admissions
  • The resolution cites as examples the continued freeze on certain federal grants and loans despite a preliminary injunction issued by a Rhode Island federal judge that blocks the freeze, and the ongoing pause on refugee admissions despite a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (California) that the processing of individuals conditionally approved for refugee status before the pause was ordered must continue
  • Trump has previously said that his administration would abide by court orders and would work with Congress as necessary in matters requiring Congressional action or approval
  • The resolution cleared the judiciary committee on a 3-1 vote with one member excused

Judiciary committee chair Sen. Karl Rhoads introduced the resolution last month in response to the Trump administration’s defiance of recent court orders, including injunctions against the freezing of federal funds and the suspension of refugee admissions.

“The President and his administration must respect the judiciary and abide by the law,” Rhoads said. “Some seem to believe that burning down the federal government will make America a better place. There are plenty of examples of countries without functioning governments and people flee these countries and try to come to the United States.” 

Senate Concurrent Resolution 158, Proposed Senate Draft 1, stresses that Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires the president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” and that the president, like all citizens, must follow the nation’s laws. “Despite the brilliant design of the United States judiciary created by the founding fathers, the President of the United States and his cabinet secretaries have repeatedly attacked the judiciary simply for carrying out its duty to interpret the laws and United States Constitution, as a check on the power of the executive branch of government,” the resolutions states.

The resolution cites as examples the continued freeze on certain federal grants and loans despite a preliminary injunction issued by a Rhode Island federal judge that blocks the freeze, and the ongoing pause on refugee admissions despite a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (California) that the processing of individuals conditionally approved for refugee status before the pause was ordered must continue.

Trump has previously said that his administration would abide by court orders and would work with Congress as necessary in matters requiring Congressional action or approval. Yet, the multiple instances of court orders going unheeded by the administration has left some lawmakers and legal experts to express concern over a looming Constitutional crisis.

The resolution cleared the judiciary committee on a 3-1 vote with one member excused. If adopted, the resolution will be transmitted to the president, president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.