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US judge bars Justice Department from threatening election officials

Published

Ongoing: US mid-terms Hot

Judge Trina Thompson issued a temporary restraining order in a case brought by labour unions and civil rights groups. It stops the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security from pressing officials to halt processing of ballots of voters alleged to be ineligible.

Thompson sits in the Northern District of California. Her order expires on 16 November. The United States holds its midterm election on 3 November.

The Justice Department had sought to set aside the ballots of more than 20,000 California voters, saying they might not be citizens. A federal judge rejected that move on Wednesday and called it brazen pre-election interference.

Critics say the administration of President Donald Trump is trying to cast doubt on election results. The order says the defendants "shall not threaten, intimidate or coerce state or local elections officials or workers" over the processing of ballots.

Key facts

Who
Trina Thompson (US federal judge, Northern District of California); Justice Department (defendant; US federal department whose directives on ballot processing were…); Department of Homeland Security (defendant in the case); Donald Trump (US president)
What
Judge Trina Thompson in the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order, in a case brought by labour unions and civil rights groups, barring the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security from intimidating election officials into halting processing of ballots of voters alleged to be ineligible. The order expires on 16 November.
When
30 October 2026
Where
Northern District of California, United States
Status
Reported

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