The US Department of Justice [official website] petitioned [text, PDF] Wednesday to have the travel ban executive order [text] by President Donald Trump [official profile] reviewed more quickly. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions [official profile]commented [text] on the proceedings earlier this month, saying “[t]his executive order provides a needed pause, so we can carefully review how we scrutinize people coming here from these countries of concern” and further stating, “[t]his Department of Justice will defend and enforce lawful orders of the President consistent with core principles of our Constitution.” The DOJ said it is seeking quicker movement because the executive order has not taken effect following rulings in Maryland and Hawaii [JURIST report].

On Monday, the Hawaii district judge who issued one of the injunctions refused to clarify [JURIST report] his travel ban ruling. Judge Derrick Watson strongly condemned the new travel ban, saying “[t]he illogic of the Government’s contentions is palpable, ” in his opinion [text, PDF]. Last Friday the Washington federal judge who ruled against Trump’s original travel ban declined [JURIST report] to reinstate the injunction on the amended ban. Before that on Thursday, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied [JURIST report] a rehearing of Trump’s original immigration order. Two weeks ago the Department of Justice withdrew [JURIST report] their appeal after Trump signed his revised ban. The DOJ had originally sought the appeal [JURIST report] in February.