A federal judge who recently blocked former President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut funding from sanctuary cities is under scrutiny for his deep connections to the Democratic Party, sparking new concerns over judicial impartiality and partisan influence in immigration policy decisions.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge William Orrick, has reignited the national debate over federal funding and sanctuary jurisdictions, especially as new details surface about the judge’s longstanding political donations and affiliations with top Democratic leaders.
Judge William Orrick’s Sanctuary City Ruling Sparks Controversy
In a highly charged decision, Judge Orrick ruled that Trump’s executive orders aimed at defunding sanctuary cities were unconstitutional, citing violations of the Fifth Amendment, Tenth Amendment, and the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
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Orrick argued the orders were “unconstitutionally vague”, placed “coercive conditions” on local governments, and attempted to commandeer local authorities into enforcing federal immigration laws—a move he claimed could damage community trust and governance.
“The threat to withhold funding causes irreparable injury in the form of budgetary uncertainty, deprivation of constitutional rights, and undermining trust between the cities and counties and the communities they serve,” he wrote.
But now, it’s the judge himself who is facing growing criticism—not just for his legal decision, but for his high-profile political donations and apparent Democratic partisanship.
Democrat Donor in Robes: Orrick’s Political Contributions Under the Microscope
An investigation into Orrick’s political background reveals he has donated over $113,000 to prominent Democrat candidates and committees throughout his life, according to publicly available data and reports by Fox News.
Among the high-profile Democrat figures Orrick has supported are:
- Barack Obama
- Bill Clinton
- Hillary Clinton
- Sen. Dianne Feinstein
- The Democratic National Committee (DNC)
In 2008, just four years before he was appointed to the bench by President Obama, Orrick made two separate donations to the Obama Victory Fund, totaling over $30,000. Additional records show he gave $53,500 to the DNC, as well as contributions to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Iowa Democratic Party.
Key Democrat Fundraiser and Campaign Organizer
Orrick’s influence in Democratic politics extends beyond donations. From 2003 to 2008, he served as co-chair of the Bay Area Lawyers to Elect John Kerry and later, the Bay Area Lawyers to Elect Barack Obama. He was also a visible figure at campaign events, once even introducing Kamala Harris during her bid for district attorney in San Francisco.
“Orrick has also stumped for Obama and Kerry at several events dating back to 2003,” Fox News reports.
These revelations have led to renewed calls for judicial accountability, with critics arguing that politically active judges should recuse themselves from cases involving partisan policy issues like immigration, sanctuary city funding, and federal-state jurisdiction conflicts.
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Rising Concern Over Politicized Judiciary in Immigration Cases
The debate over sanctuary cities and federal immigration enforcement remains one of the most contentious in American politics. Critics of Orrick’s decision argue that his Democratic allegiance compromises the perception of judicial neutrality, especially in cases that involve Republican executive policies.
Supporters of Trump argue that the courts are being used as a political tool to block lawful immigration enforcement measures, and that the sanctuary city protections are hurting public safety and national security.
Meanwhile, defenders of Orrick insist that his ruling aligns with constitutional protections and the importance of maintaining local autonomy in law enforcement practices.
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