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James Robart
2016 - Present
9
James L. Robart is a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. He joined the court in 2004 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Seattle, Washington, Robart graduated from Whitman College with his bachelor's degree in 1969 and from Georgetown University Law Center with his J.D. in 1973.[1]
Professional career
- 2016 - Present: Senior judge
- 2004-2016: Judge
- 1973-2004: Private practice, Seattle, Wa.[1]
Judicial career
Western District of Washington
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: James L. Robart |
| Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Washington |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 191 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: December 9, 2003
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| ABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
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| Questionnaire: |
| Hearing: February 11, 2004
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| Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript |
| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: March 11, 2004
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| Confirmed: June 17, 2004
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| Vote: 99-0
|
Robart was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington by George W. Bush on December 9, 2003, to a seat vacated by Judge Thomas Zilly. The American Bar Association rated Robart Unanimously Well Qualified for the nomination.[2] Hearings on Robart's nomination were held before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary on February 11, 2004, and his nomination was reported by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on March 11, 2004. Robart was confirmed on a recorded 99-0 vote of the U.S. Senate on June 17, 2004, and he received his commission on June 21, 2004. Robart elected to take senior status beginning on June 28, 2016.[1][3]
Noteworthy cases
Executive order ruling - February 3, 2017
On January 30, 2017, the Attorney General for the state of Washington, Bob Ferguson, filed a lawsuit challenging Donald Trump's January 2017 executive order on immigration in federal district court. Ferguson argued that the executive order amounted to religious discrimination by targeting Muslims, and therefore violated the constitutional rights of immigrants. The administration responded that the state did not have standing to sue and that the president was within his authority over immigration policy in issuing the executive order. On February 2, 2017, Minnesota joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff.[4][5]
On February 3, 2017, U.S. District Judge James Robart issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) of the executive order. The TRO blocked enforcement of Section 3 and Section 5 nationwide while the case was considered in district court. Robart wrote that Washington and Minnesota had effectively demonstrated that (1) they would be likely to succeed in their challenge of the order; (2) that they would likely suffer harm as a result of the order; (3) that it was most fair to the parties involved to issue a TRO; and (4) that a TRO was in the public interest.[6]
The United States Justice Department appealed Judge Robart's TRO to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. At oral argument, held on February 7, the administration said that the president has broad power over who may enter the United States and that executive decisions regarding national security should not be second-guessed in court. The two states said that the executive order amounted to religious discrimination and threatened the safety of their residents and the health of their economies. On February 9, 2017, a three-judge panel of the court unanimously upheld the block.[7]
Preliminary injunction of Agency Memo relating to refugee restrictions - December 23, 2017
On October 24, 2017, the Trump administration issued a new executive order on refugee admissions to the United States. The order allowed refugee admittance, which had been halted by a previous executive order, to begin again. However, it "directed a continuing risk assessment as to '[c]ertain [c]ategories of [r]efugees.'”[8] A subsequent memo, issued per the executive order and referred to as the Agency Memo, indefinitely suspended particular classes of refugees from entering the country and suspended the admittance of refugees from eleven countries.
In two different lawsuits, organizations and unnamed Doe plaintiffs sued to block enforcement of the administration's earlier orders on refugee admittance and on immigration. Following the October 24 order, those plaintiffs amended their suits to include the October 24 order. Plaintiffs in both cases requested a preliminary injunction to prevent parts of the Agency Memo from going into effect while the litigation was ongoing. They argued that the memo's provisions constituted administrative rules and that the administration had failed to follow administrative rulemaking regulations.[8]
On December 23, 2017, Judge Robart granted the preliminary injunction. He ruled that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the administrative agencies had exceeded their statutory authority and that the plaintiffs had demonstrated they were likely to suffer irreparable harm if the Agency Memo's provisions went into effect. Robart allowed the Agency Memo to go into effect as to refugees who lack a bona fide relationship with people, schools, or businesses in the United States. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice stated, "We disagree with the Court’s ruling and are currently evaluating the next steps."[9][8]
See also
- United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
- United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Federal Judicial Center, "Robart, James L.," accessed October 1, 2021
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III judicial nominees, 108th Congress," accessed June 24, 2016
- ↑ United States Congress, "PN 1196 - James L. Robart — The Judiciary," accessed June 24, 2016
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Judge in Seattle halts Trump’s immigration order nationwide; White House vows fight," February 3, 2017
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Minnesota suing Trump administration over refugee order," February 2, 2017
- ↑ United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, "State of Washington v. Trump - Temporary Restraining Order," February 3, 2017
- ↑ The New York Times, "Court Refuses to Reinstate Travel Ban, Dealing Trump Another Legal Loss," February 9, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, "Doe v. Trump and Jewish Family Serivces v. Trump" Findings of Fact, Conclusions of law, and Order issuing a preliminary injunction, December 23, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Judge blocks Trump refugee order," December 23, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Thomas Zilly |
Western District of Washington 2004–2016 Seat #3T |
Succeeded by: NA
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| 2001 |
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| 2002 |
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| 2003 |
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| 2004 |
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| 2005 |
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| 2006 |
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| 2007 |
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| 2008 |
Agee • Anello • Arguello • Brimmer • Gardephe • Goldberg • Jones • Kethledge • Lawrence • Matsumoto • Melgren • Murphy • Scriven • Seibel • Slomsky • Trenga • Waddoups • White | ||
