brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 24/09/2026The best way to describe the difference is that civil contempt is used to compel an action. Criminal is used to punish an action. So for instance you can throw someone in jail until they agree to follow your terms, or fine them $1,000 a day. 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 24/09/2026That's what Civil Contempt is for. It can't be pardoned, but it can have virtually the same consequences. 111
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 24/09/2026I'm putting money on a Very Late filing. 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 15/09/2026His Casinos were actually really good for patrons. I mean they were obviously (in retrospect) laundering money, but as a ~21 year old, bringing $100 to a casino, playing slots for a few, than getting offers for 100 slot dollars, free rooms (on weekends!) and free food was amazing. 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Not to mention that Congress has allocated $257 million for the Kennedy Center. 161
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Even if he decides to challenge the constitutionality of it, the facts are pretty solidly documented. The only thing that surprises me so far is I don't see any involvement from the EFF. This is right up their alley. 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Think it matters? I mean generally the best advice is to be quiet, but it seems that the only thing in dispute is whether 2232(a) covers digital information or only physical property. 111
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 21/08/2026I agree, although the precedential value of that opinion will be equivalent to a ruling on the legality of the ballroom after this administration. That is, null. Or to put it another way, if no one has standing, why do laws even matter? 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 17/08/2026If you want nothing but well-measured, grounded responses, than a publicly available site that allows anonymous registration is not the place to go. I believe that this is a misquote but apt - "The masses are stupid. Only the individual is beautiful" - Depardieu. 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026disobeying a court order. For instance responding to a show cause order with none of the information requested. Or showing up to a hearing without any of the information requested. Like they did today. /2 0170
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026They wouldn't be held in contempt for that. They have 30 days to file an answer to the complaint. The consequence for not filing is being held in default. Meaning (essentially) the judge takes everything the plaintiff said as true and finds in their favor. Oversimplified. Sanctions relate to /1 1171
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Sorry about the typo's and the missing parts, I've never tried to live update something like this before. Hopefully it helped someone. If i ever do it again I'll try to summarize a little more rather than trying to quote everything that is said and missing parts of that because of it. 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Judge: Please order the transcript for (reasons I couldn't understand... something about it being paid if he does it?) END 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Phang - We understand you wanted to address the issue of the defendant not answering the complaint later, but if that isn't the case I want to bring it up in case it bears mentioning that the defendant is in default. Judge - I think the defendant is well aware of that, we'll deal with it later. 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Asks if anyone wants to respond, says that he wanted them to know that they have fair notice. Again it isn't threatening, it is a promise. I have a job to do of administering justice. I take it very seriously. 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Repeating again about how serious this is. Thinly veiled threats basically. 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026denied an attorney's request for additional time. I generally offer more time. I want the best effort when you are responding to an issue that has been raised. Again, this is just a conversation, that is why I'm not asking for a response. Because I think it is important. Again, no one is trouble. 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026having a conversation. If you want to respond you can, but you don't need to. I recognize and acknowledge how difficult and complex your job is. I know that no one ever has enough time. Sometimes if you run at time, and you don't have time to respond is to ask for more time. I don't think I've ever 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026that is not the correct response. The party should say something "respectfully, we have nothing to add" or something like that rather than saying nothing at all. There's no need to have a hearing to sanction or hold someone in contempt. I would prefer not to do it. So again I'm just 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026administered fairly. No one is in trouble, I'm just bringing this to your attention. I'm not focused on this issue right now. I'm not talking about compliance. If a party has nothing to respond to, a courts order saying that the party must respond and the party says nothing and does nothing 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026I thought it was only clear and consistent and appropriate with my obligations to the bar to provide them with notice of information that i consider appropriate. So that's the only reason I'm doing this. I am not interested in doing this at all. But I will do it to ensure that Justice is 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026implying or anxious to do it again. I have done it before, and been affirmed. I think I'm the only judge in this circuit who has done that (held the government lawyers in contempt). Our research shows there are no other cases, except for one in Minnesota that was sealed. That was a monetary fine 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026So none of us judges are very anxious to impose contempt because we recognize that there are far reaching implications of that aciton We also recognize that we have a job to do. That is to fairly administer justice. That is what we will have to do to accomplish this objective. Again, I'm not 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026"Has your judgement ever been questioned by a judge or something else" "Especially if the board is considering sending someones name to the white house". This is something really important and that really affects the career of attorney and they will have to disclose it for the rest of their life. 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026court has zero desire to do so again. I hope to never hold anyone in contempt again. -- missed 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026parties to know how far the Judge has gone to enforce legitimate judicial orders. I could have kept silent and not said anything about this, and held a client in contempt. But I didn't want to blindside someone. I wanted to bring it up so everyone knows it up in the past. To emphasize that the 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Both sides should be aware of the citations for the Stevens case. US V Stevens. (missed). And the reason I'm doing this - two reasons first of all - the subject was brought up in a pleading Secondly I think it's important to know what a trial judge has done. I think it is important for the 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026judicial orders. I mention that because the topic of contempt has been mentioned in pleadings. I don't want to get sidetracked with contempt motions. I'm probably the only judge in this circuit who has held DoJ attorney's in civil contempt. It was affirmed by the court of appeals. 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Well the case went up to the court of appeals, and I didn't even know it. Months later the court of appeals ruled in my favor. missed What the judge did was to order compliance with his order and the nature of civil contempt which is an approrpriate remedy which is to ensure compliance with 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026do that? No. Was I proud? No. I knew them, I didn't want to do it, but I did. It was necessary for justice to be administered fairly. The documents were handed over later the day, the contempt was purged. 3 of the 4 prosecutors appealed 111
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026and defense counsel who had previously filed a motion to hold the government in court, stated they had not received anything. Two or three weeks later they still hadn't received anything. I told the attorney's you give me no choice, I'm holding each one of you in contempt of court. Was I happy to 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026the information they had intentionally conspired to conceal. There were 32/33 documents that were the focused in on post-trial litigation. Interim status feeling - to check in on the case. I said something like "I assume the defense counsel has received the documents the court ordered" 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Senator was found guilty, appeals started. Requests for new trial, something happened, that had not happened ever before in my career. A whistleblower appeared, that had been sitting with the DoJ trial. He had been sitting with the DoJ lawyers the entire. He blew the whistle on the government, and 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026The court ordered production of documents, the court informed the (something) to disregard, the court informed the jury that certain information mean to be excluded because the evidence was provided too late. That the court had to admonish the Government because it was inappropriate. 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026We're not filing any motions that might toll the trial. Senator stevens is up for election. He is planning to run for election. That was the first time, in 1991, that was the first and I think the only time, that I think an attorney responded that they were not going to file any motions. 100
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026with the parties in general terms. I'm going to talk about a case I presided over (missed the name), it was a very unusual case, very high profile It started off to be what I thought would be, a somewhat traditional case. It wasn't traditional at all. The first thing that occurred was - 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Judge: Not going to talk about pending motions Let's have a conversation about what's going on Plaintiff has raised the issue of contempt - no one is in contempt yet And I just really needed to say this, I think that now is a good opportunity to discuss this topic in very general terms with /1 010
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026#Phang I finally got in to the call, 15 minute recess was supposed to end 15 minutes ago, and all I hear is silence. If I hear anything I'll post. 020
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Has the recess ended yet? I never managed to get in. 120
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026The process has been met as far as civil contempt is concerned. Valid order, knowledge and notice, willful violation and ability to comply. The real question is who gets held in contempt, Blanche? 040
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Ok, this is starting to give me flashbacks of the Abrego Garcia case, as well as D.V.D. and related issues. I thought for sure those were going to be the cases where the DoJ was going to outright defy the Courts... but it seems like instead this nothing case is their line in the sand? Why??? 160
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Is this the first post after you managed to get into the call, or is Bluesky acting up again? 000
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Linked the end, not the beginning, sorry! 110
brownc424.bsky.social @brownc424.bsky.social · 13/08/2026@annabower.bsky.social Are you, or anyone else at #lawfare going to live "skeet" the Phang v. Blanche hearing today? 000
