A federal judge on Tuesday found Florida's attorney general to be in civil contempt over her ruling that put on hold a new state law making it a misdemeanor for people living in the U.S. illegally to enter the state.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier was unconvincing in his arguments that he didn't flout her injunction putting the law on hold. Uthmeier had sent out a memo saying the judge was legally wrong and that he couldn't prevent police officers and deputies from enforcing the law. A contempt hearing was held two weeks ago in Miami.
"Litigants cannot change the plain meaning of words as it suits them, especially when conveying a court's clear and unambiguous order," Williams wrote. "Fidelity to the rule of law can have no other meaning."
For sanctions, the judge ordered Uthmeier to file biweekly reports to her about whether any arrests, detentions or law enforcement actions have been made under the law, which is being challenged in court by immigrant rights groups.
In a social media post, Uthmeier said, "If being held in contempt is what it costs to defend the rule of law and stand firmly behind President Trump's agenda on illegal immigration, so be it."