Judge John Coughenour is presiding over a case challenging Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, asserting it undermines the Fourteenth Amendment. He has issued a preliminary injunction against the order, which he deems "clearly unconstitutional." Coughenour criticized Trump's approach as an infringement on the rule of law, emphasizing that any changes to the Constitution must follow the established amendment process. His statements reflect a steadfast commitment to uphold legal principles despite political challenges, reinforcing the importance of constitutional integrity in governance.
"It has become ever more apparent that to our president the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals," Judge Coughenour said at a hearing Thursday. "The rule of law is, according to him, is something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain. Nevertheless, in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow."
"We are all citizens subject to the rule of law. No amount of policy debate can change that. And the fact that the government has cloaked what is effectively a constitutional amendment under the guise of an executive order is equally unconstitutional."
"If the government wants to change the exceptional American grant of birthright citizenship, it needs to amend the Constitution itself. That's how the Constitution works, and that's how the rule of law works."
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