Is the Department of Justice is trying to infringe on the civil liberties of Americans in response to coronavirus?
A recent POLITICO report says that the DOJ “has quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without trial during emergencies.”
Simply put, the emergency powers could suspend an American’s right to a trial during the Wuhan virus outbreak, at the discretion of judges.
The controversial request is garnering attention around the political world due to its threat of habeas corpus – “the constitutional right to appear before a judge after arrest and seek release.”
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, both sides of the political aisle condemned the report.
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. wrote on Twitter that “the federal government should NOT use the coronavirus pandemic to arrogate power and abuse the constitutional rights of Americans.”
The federal government should NOT use the coronavirus pandemic to arrogate power and abuse the constitutional rights of Americans.
This request by the Department of Justice is an unwarranted move to authoritarianism, which must be fought aggressively. https://t.co/27NTqHfYKP
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) March 22, 2020
“Absolutely not,” wrote Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
Absolutely not. https://t.co/buaiiU92Xk
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 21, 2020
POLITICO reports that it reviewed several documents in which the proposals to Congress were put forth.
Under the measures introduced, Attorney General William Barr would have the power to “ask any chief judge of any district court to pause proceedings” in the event of a natural disaster, civil disobedience, or emergency situation.
The DOJ insists that the proposed measures aren’t exactly anything new, as “individual judges” already have the power to pause court proceedings.
The proposed measures, as POLITICO writes, is for the DOJ to ensure that all judges across America have that increased power.
POLITICO writes that the bill would be unlikely passed through either the House or Senate.
Other proposed items include changes in asylum-seeking illegal immigrants affected by COVID-19, the expansion of video teleconferencing to conduct hearings for defendants, and the pause in the statute of limitations during a national emergency.
The Horn editorial team