In the waning hours of Barack Obama’s presidency, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) will argue a case before the supreme court that could have a tremendous impact on civil rights in the US under president Trump.
The case, Ziglar vs Abbasi, dates to 2002 and hinges on whether high level Bush administration officials can be held personally liable for alleged constitutional violations against Middle Eastern men.
While legal defense groups like CCR are no stranger to bringing suits like this against administrations across the ideological spectrum, one thing is becoming evident as civil rights advocates prepare for the Trump era. Litigation like this will become a far more critical strategy for protecting and expanding civil rights without a sympathetic ear at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
“It’s pretty clear to us that we’re going to have to think about new engagement strategies with the Trump administration,” said Vince Warren, executive director of CCR. “In the Obama administration there were opportunities to engage through dialog, and that was in addition to litigation. But the opportunities to engage in dialogue with the Trump administration appear next to nothing.” ...