Garland unaware US marshals told to 'avoid' protester arrests outside justices' homes
by Kaelan Deese, Supreme Court Reporter |
March 29, 2023 05:39 PM
Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday he was not aware of guidelines given to the U.S. Marshals Service to "avoid" arresting protesters outside the homes of Supreme Court justices in the fallout of a leaked opinion that signaled the eventual overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Republican lawmakers have amplified scrutiny of President Joe Biden's Justice Department for alleged failures to arrest protesters under a federal statute that makes it a crime to protest at the private residence of a federal judge with the intent to influence any decision before them in court.
A whistleblower provided copies of guidelines to Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) that were given to U.S. marshals showing that deputies were highly discouraged from making arrests unless the lives of the justices of their families were in danger. A spokesperson for Britt said the source was "concerned about the attorney general’s misleading testimony before the Judiciary Committee.”
One line on the guidelines told the deputies to "avoid, unless absolutely necessary, criminal enforcement actions involving the protests or protesters, particularly on public space," with a subsequent instruction stating "arrests and initiating prosecutions is not the goal of the USMS presence at SCOTUS residences," Britt said during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, emphasizing the "not" was underlined and italicized in the actual guidelines.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/courts/garland-unaware-us-marshals-told-to-avoid-protester-arrests
