litigant

In a letter explaining his actions, Judge Thornhill said his aim was "to add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants".

The practice isn’t common, but it is seeing an uptick among civil litigants who can’t stomach lengthy delays and want to ensure they have a judge with relevant expertise.

Justice Department attorneys wrote that they “greatly regret any disruption caused to the Court and the other litigants,” but needed to pause the proceedings until they were “permitted to resume their usual civil litigation functions.”

Then he helpfully explained what it would be for future litigants.

In the coming months, as litigants seek to capitalize on early legal wins without the benefit of a broad preliminary injunction, this doctrine could become the legal left’s most potent tool.