“displeasure and sympathy are not enough in a court of law."

Posted on: July 9, 2025 at 09:36:23 CT

Finally. A judge who understood the law, even if he doesn’t agree with the policy.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-lands-legal-victory-federal-judge-allows-800m-grants-clawed-back


U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington denied a preliminary injunction that five organizations sought against the DOJ’s cancellation of more than 360 grant awards and granted a motion to dismiss the case.

Metha described the DOJ’s actions as "shameful" in his ruling, though he ultimately declared that the court lacked jurisdiction and the organizations had failed to state a constitutional violation or protection.

"Defendants’ rescinding of these awards is shameful. It is likely to harm communities and individuals vulnerable to crime and violence," Mehta wrote. "But displeasure and sympathy are not enough in a court of law."

The DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs canceled more than $800 million in grants in April as part of what it called a priority shift to include more direct support to certain law enforcement operations, combat violent crime and support American victims of trafficking and sexual assault.

Democracy Forward Foundation and the Perry Law firm filed the lawsuit, arguing the grant terminations did not allow due process, lacked sufficient clarity and violated the constitutional separation of powers clause that gives Congress appropriation powers.