Federal appeals court blocks California law requiring federal agents to wear identification
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction blocking a California law that restricts federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks, agreeing it violates the Supremacy Clause by attempting to regulate the federal government.
- The court unanimously ruled the law improperly targets the federal government’s performance of governmental functions, with judges from both Trump and Obama appointees concurring.
- California argued the law applied equally to all law enforcement to enhance public safety by preventing confusion over officers' identities, but the court declined to consider these factors, emphasizing constitutional protections.
- The injunction follows a related blocked California law banning most law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, which included exceptions for undercover agents and protective equipment.
- The Department of Justice hailed the ruling as a significant legal victory, while the California Attorney General’s office had not yet responded.
