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Defense for Children International – Palestine et al v. Biden et al

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Defense for Children International – Palestine et al v. Biden et al
CourtUnited States District Court for the Northern District of California
Decideddismissed on 31 January 2024
Docket nos.4:23-cv-05829-JSW [1]
Court membership
Judge sittingJeffrey White

Defense for Children International – Palestine et al v. Biden et al is a lawsuit by Defence for Children International – Palestine et al in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the U.S. officials; alleged "failure to prevent and complicity in the unfolding genocide against Gaza".[1][2][3][4] The plaintiffs include several Palestinian Americans whose families have been killed.[5] The court dismissed the case on January 31, 2024, ruling that while "it is plausible that Israel's conduct amounts to genocide," US foreign policy was a political question over which courts lacked jurisdiction.[6][7][8]

Background

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See also: Casualties of the Israel–Hamas war

The Israel–Hamas war had seen high levels of civilian deaths in Gaza."[9][10]

The plaintiffs stated that, together, over 100 of their family members had been killed in Gaza.[5] Included among the dead are six members of Ahmed Abu Artema's family who were killed, including his 12-year-old son, five members of Dr. Al-Najjar's extended family who were killed, and eight of Mr. Abu Rokbeh's family who were killed.[5] Several individuals and 77 human rights organizations joined the plaintiffs as amici curiae, including Josh Paul from the US State Department; genocide and Holocaust scholars William Schabas, Dr. John Cox, Dr. Victoria Sanford, Dr. Barry Trachtenberg; and Jewish Voice for Peace.[11][12][13]

Case timeline

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The Center for Constitutional Rights filed the case for the plaintiffs on November 13, 2023. The preliminary injunction hearing took place on January 26, 2024.[5]

Outcome

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On 31 January 2024, the case was dismissed. The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over US foreign policy due to the U.S. Constitution's political question doctrine, but that he would have preferred to have issued the injunction and urged President Biden to rethink U.S. policy,[6][7] writing:[8]: 8 

There are rare cases in which the preferred outcome is inaccessible to the Court. This is one of those cases. The Court is bound by precedent and the division of our coordinate branches of government to abstain from exercising jurisdiction in this matter. Yet, as the ICJ has found, it is plausible that Israel's conduct amounts to genocide. This Court implores Defendants to examine the results of their unflagging support of the military siege against the Palestinians in Gaza.

The often cited precedent against jurisdiction of U.S. courts in this case was Corrie v. Caterpillar, Inc (2007).[14][15]

As reason to not apply the U.S. statutes in regard to the Genocide Convention on the actions of the U.S. government, the court relied on the political question doctrine and cited the reasoning in Corrie v. Caterpillar, Inc: "Whether to grant military or other aid to a foreign nation is a political decision inherently entangled with the conduct of foreign relations."[8]: 7 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Defense for Children International – Palestine et al v. Biden et al". Justia Dockets & Filings. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Center for Constitutional Rights' (CCR) complaint" (PDF). CCRjustice.org. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. ^ McGreal, Chris (13 November 2023). "US rights group sues Biden for alleged 'failure to prevent genocide' in Gaza". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  4. ^ "US rights group sues Biden for alleged 'failure to prevent genocide' in Gaza". Center for Constitutional Rights. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Defense for Children International - Palestine v. Biden". Center for Constitutional Rights. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Hubler, Shawn (February 1, 2024). "A federal judge dismisses a suit to block U.S. support of Israel — but urges Biden to re-examine his approach". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-02-01.
  7. ^ a b Pazanowski, Bernie; Thomsen, Jacqueline (2024-02-01). "Israeli Military Aid Package Not Reviewable by Federal Court". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  8. ^ a b c "Order Granting Motion to Dismiss and Denying Motion for Preliminary Injunction" (PDF). United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Case 4:23-cv-05829-JSW, Document 91. 2024-01-31. pp. 1–9. Retrieved 2024-02-02 – via Courthouse News Service.
  9. ^ "Daily death rate in Gaza higher than any other major 21st Century conflict". Oxfam International. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ "United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory | Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel - reported impact | Day 97". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Brief of Amicus Curiae Jewish Voice for Peace" (PDF). CCRJ. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Josh Paul Declaration" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  13. ^ "New Filings in Gaza Genocide Lawsuit: Palestinians Refute Biden Admin Arguments That Court Cannot Review Its Role in Furthering Israel's Genocide". Center for Constitutional Rights. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  14. ^ Corrie et al. v. Caterpillar
  15. ^ CORRIE V CATERPILLAR, INC., No. 05-36210 (9th Cir. 2007)
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