Thread by @hansilowang

BREAKING: A 2nd federal judge has rejected Trump admin request to swap out lawyers in #CitizenshipQuestion lawsuits. U.S. District Judge George Hazel of Maryland is allowing Justice Department to try again👇

documentcloud.org/documents/6188…

2. Judge Hazel writes while he's "inclined to ultimately permit the withdrawal, under the unique circumstances of this request, more specific assurances will first need to be provided":

- details on "orderly transition"
- how withdrawing attorneys can help meet deadlines

3. Judge Hazel writes he "cannot fathom how it would be possible, at this juncture, for a wholesale change in Defendants’ representation not to have some impact on the orderly resolution of these proceedings unless Defendants provide assurance of an orderly transition."

4. Judge Hazel says he expects new DOJ lawyers "will be aware of & prepared to address potential conflicts between recent developments in this case & positions repeatedly taken...by the withdrawing attorneys." Based on his summary, it looks like judge has been tracking the news👇

5. Judge Hazel says Trump administration "must realize that a change in counsel does not create a clean slate for a party to proceed as if prior representations made to the Court were not in fact made."

6. Here's my write-up (c/o @_amita_) on the latest twist in the #CitizenshipQuestion
legal battle👇

npr.org/2019/07/10/740…

@_amita_ 7. @TheJusticeDept spokesperson Kelly Laco says DOJ declines to comment on U.S. District Judge George Hazel's order that denied requests to withdraw attorneys on the #CitizenshipQuestion case in Maryland.