Judge Slams Down DOJ’s Lawsuit Against NY’s Protect Our Courts Act

New YORK – In a resounding victory for New York’s justice system, Federal Judge dismisses the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit against the state’s landmark Protect Our Courts Act. Attorney General Letitia James hailed the ruling as a win for access to justice, emphasizing that ‘everyone deserves to seek justice without fear.’

The Protect Our Courts Act, passed in 2020 and codified following a Trump administration attempt to conduct civil immigration arrests near New York courthouses, was challenged by the DOJ last June. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York ruled that nothing in federal immigration law preempts New York’s authority to safeguard its courts.

James stated, ‘My office will continue fighting to defend the dignity and rights of immigrant communities throughout New York,’ a commitment underscored by today’s legal victory. This ruling not only preserves the state’s ability to ensure fair access to court but also sends a strong message about the federal government’s overreach.

The dismissal of the DOJ’s lawsuit comes after James’ historic 2020 decision that prevented the Trump administration from conducting civil immigration arrests at New York courthouses. This latest victory is another chapter in the attorney general’s ongoing battle to protect the rights and well-being of all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status.

Legal experts are praising the ruling, with one noting, ‘This decision reaffirms the principle that states have significant authority to regulate activities within their borders.’ The outcome is a clear win for state sovereignty and civil liberties in what has been an embattled legal landscape.