Yes and no. The US Marshals are law enforcement for he Federal Courts. However they are not a part of the judicial branch. They are still part of the executive branch and answer to the DOJ.
So… literally the “where does power lie” question from Game of Thrones. When you are meant to enforce the Court’s orders but you’re also meant to follow the DOJ’s orders, which orders do you follow when they conflict?
Have the US Marshals ever arrested government officials? Yes. Notably, they arrested a sitting Representative, and Newark, NJ’s mayor among others for supposed violations of law at an immigration detention center for which a warrant was issued and the US Marshals executed. Have they arrested other law enforcement officers? Absolutely. They arrested the sheriff of St. Louis in October for bond revocation while he was being federally charged for witness tampering and intimidation. Have they arrested high ranking officials of the executive branch? Not that I am aware of.
Until they start sending out US Marshals and other judicial officers to arrest offenders and charging them for contempt… it kind of is just advisory.
Right, so the courts have their own “enforcers” US Marshals? And don’t rely on cops to arrest those breaking judge orders?
That would make sense, to have their own officers, independent of other agencies they might be prosecuting.
Yes and no. The US Marshals are law enforcement for he Federal Courts. However they are not a part of the judicial branch. They are still part of the executive branch and answer to the DOJ.
So… literally the “where does power lie” question from Game of Thrones. When you are meant to enforce the Court’s orders but you’re also meant to follow the DOJ’s orders, which orders do you follow when they conflict?
And they have done this when?
Have the US Marshals ever arrested government officials? Yes. Notably, they arrested a sitting Representative, and Newark, NJ’s mayor among others for supposed violations of law at an immigration detention center for which a warrant was issued and the US Marshals executed. Have they arrested other law enforcement officers? Absolutely. They arrested the sheriff of St. Louis in October for bond revocation while he was being federally charged for witness tampering and intimidation. Have they arrested high ranking officials of the executive branch? Not that I am aware of.