Trump’s Department of Justice Stops Major Civil Rights Lawsuits in Louisiana and South Carolina

The Trump-appointed Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, has announced the suspension of lawsuits filed during the Biden administration that addressed civil rights violations in Louisiana and South Carolina.

In Louisiana, thousands of inmates have been illegally held in prison beyond their scheduled release dates, with records showing that some have been detained for weeks, months, or even over a year after their official release date. Similarly, South Carolina was accused of improperly institutionalizing many individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses for extended periods instead of offering them services that would allow them to live in less restrictive environments, as required under federal law.

Federal judges temporarily put a halt to these lawsuits in February at the request of the states, with the approval of the Department of Justice. This decision has been viewed by civil rights advocates as yet another indicator of the Trump administration’s step back from defending the rights of vulnerable populations. Since President Trump took office, his administration has withdrawn racial discrimination suits, ceased investigations into police misconduct, and terminated oversight of troubled law enforcement agencies.

Anya Bidwell, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, has expressed disappointment with the administration’s rollbacks of civil rights progress, describing the administration as actively reversing civil rights reforms and advancements.

The cases against Louisiana and South Carolina were initiated by the Special Litigation Section of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, responsible for upholding laws that protect religious rights, reproductive health services, constitutional policing, and the rights of individuals in state and local institutions. However, since Trump’s inauguration, this unit has seen a significant reduction in staff, with the number of front-line lawyers dropping substantially.

The departures of key staff members have impeded the department’s ability to address vital issues like sexual harassment in housing, discrimination against disabled individuals, and the inappropriate use of restraints and seclusions in schools. Former Senior Attorney in the Civil Rights Division, Omar Noureldin, appointed by President Biden, expressed concerns about the challenges faced by the department in addressing these critical matters.

The Department of Justice has declined to provide comments on the Louisiana and South Carolina cases. Sources familiar with the situation have revealed that Trump-appointed officials overseeing the lawsuits have signaled a preference for resolving matters outside of court through settlement negotiations.

While settlement talks have been previously utilized by the federal government to address civil rights violations, this approach involves reaching consent decrees that establish specific requirements for remedying violations. These agreements are supervised by an external monitor and a federal judge to ensure compliance with the set conditions.