Trump Executive Order lawsuit: hearing set for Seattle federal court Friday

Wash. AG Ferguson, joined by Minnesota AG Swanson, files amended complaint

SEATTLE — Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced the filing of an amended complaint in State of Washington v. Trump, the state’s lawsuit challenging key sections of President Trump’s immigration Executive Order as illegal and unconstitutional.

The amended complaint filed late Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, adds the State of Minnesota as a plaintiff, under the leadership of Attorney General Lori Swanson. Ferguson’s office also filed a supplemental brief addressing Washington’s standing to bring the action.

Senior Judge James Robart will hold a hearing Friday, Feb. 3, on the state’s Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). Attorneys for the State of Washington and the federal government will present argument on whether implementation of the Trump Administration’s Executive Order should be suspended nationwide immediately. The court could rule on the TRO as early as the conclusion of the hearing, set for 2:30 p.m. PST in the United States Courthouse in Seattle. Media information, including court rules and information, is available here.

“No one is above the law, not even the President,” said Ferguson. “My legal team presents a strong case, detailing the constitutional weaknesses in President Trump’s unlawful Executive Order. That order is causing significant harm and demands immediate action.”

On Monday, Washington filed the first state lawsuit challenging the Administration’s move to restrict immigration from seven majority-Muslim nations and the resettlement of refugees.  In addition to this action from Washington, now joined by Minnesota, three other states — Massachusetts, New York and Virginia — have moved to join third-party actions challenging the federal policy.

To obtain a TRO, the state must prove that its underlying lawsuit is likely to succeed, that irreparable harm is likely to occur without the restraining order, and that halting the President’s order immediately is in the public interest. The state must also establish that the potential injury to Washington residents caused by leaving the President’s order in place outweighs any potential damage from halting it.

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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
 
Contacts:
Peter Lavallee, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725; PeterL@atg.wa.gov