Judge Blocks Justice Department Demands on California Ballots
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Justice Department from demanding ballot segregation and threatening election workers.
At a glance
- U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order against the Justice Department.
- The ruling blocks federal officials from demanding that California separate ballots from alleged noncitizens.
- The lawsuit was filed by labor unions and other groups accusing the administration of voter intimidation.
- The judge scheduled the next court hearing for November 13.
A federal judge in California issued an order late Friday requiring the federal government to halt demands that local and state election workers separate specific ballots. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson also barred federal authorities from threatening election administrators with criminal prosecution for noncompliance. The ruling followed a legal challenge initiated a day prior by labor unions and advocacy organizations. The plaintiffs argued that the administration engaged in intimidation tactics and disrupted the administration of the midterm elections.
Throughout the month, the Justice Department urged California officials to isolate mail ballots belonging to approximately 20,000 individuals suspected of lacking citizenship. Federal authorities additionally issued grand jury subpoenas to officials within Los Angeles County. These steps formed part of a broader federal push, alongside repeated warnings that election personnel could face prosecution if they failed to block noncitizens from casting ballots.
The legal complaint highlighted actions by Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department Civil Rights Division, who sent letters to all fifty states and Washington, D.C., in July warning of potential criminal charges for local election workers. Plaintiffs also pointed to recent federal requests for lists containing names of voters suspected of being noncitizens as examples of unlawful pressure.
Judge Thompson determined that federal officials likely breached provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that forbid intimidating, threatening, or coercing individuals assisting voters. She added that the government operated beyond its legal and constitutional powers. The temporary restraining order remains in effect until November 16, with an upcoming hearing scheduled for November 13. Aside from prohibiting prosecution threats and ballot segregation demands, the judge directed the Justice Department to disclose any active search warrant applications or subpoenas to the court.
What it means
The ruling represents a direct judicial pushback against federal intervention in local election administration. The administration has framed its efforts as a necessary safeguard to prevent unlawful voting, arguing that enforcement measures protect the integrity of the ballot box. Conversely, critics and the plaintiffs contend that aggressive federal tactics cross the line into voter intimidation and infringe upon traditional state authority over elections.
This legal conflict underscores the ongoing tension between federal oversight and decentralized state control. As courts continue to reject attempts to alter ballot handling procedures close to election deadlines, the outcome shapes how election workers navigate competing legal signals from federal and state authorities. The dispute highlights broader political divisions over voting access and the role of the Justice Department in local governance.
Background
Federal law grants states primary authority to manage and administer elections, while the Justice Department holds responsibilities to enforce voting rights and federal statutes. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 includes explicit protections against intimidating or coercing voters and election workers.
What happens next
The temporary restraining order expires on November 16, and the court has scheduled the next hearing for November 13.
Reporting from: CBS News. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- Trina Thompson
- Justice Department
- Voting Rights Act
- elections
- California
- United States
- Politics