In a decisive stance against what's been described as a federal overreach, Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto steps up as the frontrunner in a national coalition supporting Governor Gavin Newsom's battle in Newsom v. Trump. The coalition, which spans 36 cities and the United States Conference of Mayors, has filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The heart of the issue is the ongoing legal dispute over the federal government's deployment of National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles.
The coalition, through their legal brief, seeks to uphold the District Court’s ruling which found that such military actions violated the Posse Comitatus Act – a century and a half old statute barring military involvement in domestic policing. "I am proud to be leading this coalition to defend our City against this Administration’s unconstitutional overreach and am grateful to our partners for standing with us in these unprecedented times," said Feldstein Soto in a statement obtained by cityattorney.lacity.gov. The Attorney stressed the need to aggressively push back against what is seen as an assault on community norms and the rule of law since June 6, the date the contested military activities commenced.
Reinforcing the District Court’s judgment, the brief claims that the federal government crossed a line meant to protect citizens from feeling the weight of a military-occupied force in their own streets. Moreover, it emphasizes that local authorities are fully capable and better suited to handle civil law enforcement without the chilling impact on local economies that military presence can have.
Lending their voices to the cause, cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston, among numerous others, have joined Los Angeles in this legal front, alongside counties including Los Angeles and Santa Clara in California and Boulder County, Colorado. This broad coalition signals a concerted effort to safeguard the autonomy of local law enforcement agencies and preserve the relationship they maintain with the communities they serve. The involvement of the US Conference of Mayors sends a powerful message, representing the interests of over 1,400 mayors nationwide. The shared sentiment among these entities is clear - military intervention should not to lightly step into the realm of civilian policing.
As the legal proceedings continue, the brief they’ve put forth represents more than just a legal argument; it's a statement on the perceived balance of power between federal authority and local jurisdiction. The full document detailing their stance is available, titled "Brief of Amicus Curiae the Cities of Los Angeles, CA, Alameda, CA, Albany, NY, Albuquerque, NM…", and can be read at cityattorney.lacity.gov. The case, numbered 25-5553, continues to unfold in the Ninth Circuit Court, holding not only legal but also significant implications for federal-local dynamics in the context of law enforcement and military deployment.
