Thread by @lawrencehurley

Judge’s census deadline is today.

From yesterday: White House considering 'every option' for adding citizenship question reut.rs/2xugjMT

Latest: White House faces court deadline to reveal U.S. census citizenship plan reut.rs/2LBCpoM

Judge Furman issues order saying no need for him to weigh in right now as Judge Hazel in Maryland is taking the lead:

Meanwhile, Trump just told reporters he is thinking about a possible executive order, among other options, per @Reuters

@Reuters "We’ll see what happens," Trump says, less than 3 hours before a judge wants to find out what the administration plans to do

Trump on Chief Justice Roberts and the census ruling: "I have a lot of respect for justice Roberts. But he didn’t like it, but he did say come back."

Trump on Friday said the "number one" reason for adding a citizenship question was for the drawing of electoral districts, which is what those challenging the move have said all along

"You need it for many reasons. Number one you need it for Congress... for districting. You need it for appropriations -- where are the funds going? How many people are there? Are they citizens? Are they not citizens? You need it for many reasons," Trump said

In 2016, Supreme Court upheld drawing of electoral districts based on total population but reserved judgment on whether they could be drawn based on "eligible voters." This is why census numbers are so important
reuters.com/article/us-usa…

NEW: Justice Department has made no decision on how to proceed on citizenship question, according to new court filings. Per judge's previous comments, that means that case on racial bias allegations will move forward

"Any new decision by the Department of Commerce on remand providing a new
rationale for reinstating a citizenship question on the census will constitute a new final agency action, and Plaintiffs will be fully entitled to challenge that decision at that time" -Justice Department

Trump administration opposes judge moving forward with racial bias claims, saying that if a new rationale for adding citizenship Q is offered, that would be a new agency action that must be challenged anew

In support of its position, Trump administration cites cases on Trump's travel ban and Trump's transgender military restrictions, both of which went into effect after initial versions blocked

NEW: Judge Hazel to move forward on census citizenship case: " Regardless of the justification Defendants may now find for a “new” decision, discovery related to the origins of the question will remain relevant. "

(Not sure how much to read into the quote marks around "new")

UPDATE: Trump's intervention seeking to revive citizenship question on the census has opened the door to a judge looking at claims the plan was motivated by racial bias:
reuters.com/article/us-usa…