The U.S. Supreme Court refused to block a lower court ruling that revived a lawsuit filed by immigration judges challenging a government speech restriction policy.

The justices declined the Trump administration’s request to stop a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that sent the case back to federal district court. The underlying dispute centers on a policy that prohibits immigration judges from speaking publicly about immigration policy and their employer agency.

The Legal Challenge

The National Association of Immigration Judges filed suit in Alexandria, Virginia federal court, arguing the speech restriction violates the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema initially dismissed the case, ruling that judges must pursue their claims through the federal government’s administrative review process under the Civil Service Reform Act.

The 4th Circuit reversed that dismissal after the judges’ association appealed. The appeals court cited recent actions by President Donald Trump, including his dismissal of the chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Special Counsel, as raising questions about the independence of the administrative review system.

The Administration’s Response

Solicitor General D. John Sauer requested on December 5 that the Supreme Court block the appeals court decision, arguing that