Former US Judges Oppose Trump Bid to Pause Sanctions in IRS Lawsuit

August 5, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Thirty-five former federal judges have urged a US court to reject Donald Trump's request to temporarily halt sanctions imposed in a lawsuit involving the Internal Revenue Service, arguing that the appeal is unlikely to succeed. The former judges, supported by Democracy Defenders Action and several law firms, filed an opposition brief challenging Trump's expedited motion to stay proceedings in the case of Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service.

The dispute follows a July 13 court order that sanctioned Trump, members of his family and the Trump Organization over what the court described as a lawsuit brought in bad faith. The sanctions were linked to a settlement involving the IRS that critics argued improperly benefited Trump and his family. Trump and other plaintiffs have appealed the sanctions order and asked the district court to suspend enforcement while the appeal moves forward.

In their filing, the former judges argued that the request for a stay should be denied because the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on appeal or shown that they would suffer irreparable harm without a pause. They said the court had correctly determined that the plaintiffs and their lawyers pursued the case with an "improper purpose" and that the resulting Rule 11 sanctions were justified.

The former judges also argued that Trump, his family members, the Trump Organization and their legal representatives had received adequate notice that sanctions were being considered and had an opportunity to respond before the court issued its ruling. The filing represents the latest development in a legal dispute over a settlement involving potential tax and other liabilities connected to Trump and his business interests. The court has yet to rule on Trump's request to suspend the sanctions while his appeal proceeds.

Source: FSX Business News