Department of Justice

Second Judge Hands Trump Census Defeat, Won't Allow Lawyers Off Citizenship Case

The order was issued by Federal District Court Judge George Hazel of Maryland

A second federal judge is refusing to let Justice Department lawyers withdraw from a lawsuit over the government's plan to put a citizenship question on the 2020 census form that goes to every household, NBC News reported.

Federal District Court Judge George Hazel of Maryland said in an order Wednesday that he "cannot fathom" how a change in the government's entire legal team could avoid having some effect on the proceedings in his court unless the Justice Department can assure him of an orderly transition.

Hazel is overseeing a lawsuit, separate from the case that went to the Supreme Court, in which opponents say that putting the question on the form would amount to discrimination. That case is now in the discovery phase, in which lawyers for both sides are gathering evidence.

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