Thu Jan 23 06:08:44 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Halts Civil Rights Litigation, Reconsiders Police Reform Agreements
**Washington, D.C. – January 23, 2025** – The Trump administration has instituted a freeze on all new civil rights litigation within the Justice Department, according to internal memos obtained by the Associated Press. The move signals a significant shift in the department’s priorities under the new administration, potentially reversing key police reform initiatives implemented during the Biden presidency.
Two memos issued by the new chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, instruct attorneys in the Civil Rights Division to halt the filing of new complaints, amicus briefs, and other court documents until further notice. Furthermore, the memos mandate notification of leadership regarding any settlements or consent decrees finalized by the Biden administration within the past 90 days. These agreements, the memos state, may be reconsidered, raising concerns about the future of two recently finalized consent decrees in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
These decrees, stemming from investigations into police misconduct related to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, respectively, are still pending judicial approval. Their potential reversal underscores a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back civil rights enforcement.
The Justice Department under the first Trump administration significantly reduced the use of consent decrees. This latest action, coupled with the appointment of conservative attorney Harmeet Dhillon to head the Civil Rights Division, reinforces expectations of a dramatic reshaping of the department’s approach to civil rights issues. The duration of the litigation freeze remains unclear, but the administration justifies the move as necessary to ensure policy alignment and allow the President’s appointees to review existing cases.
First Piper 