Alexander Hamilton described the judiciary as "the least dangerous branch" of the federal government because it holds neither "the purse" nor "the sword." Rather, the federal courts have "merely judgment." In fact, the judiciary "must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments."
But what happens to our constitutional order if the executive loses in court and then refuses to give efficacy to the judgment? What happens when presidents defy court orders?
This is no mere academic query. Over the past week, President Donald Trump has inched ever closer to openly defying an order of the U.S. Supreme Court.
