This simply cannot stand.

Limited redactions, sure — but not entirely sealed discovery. The reason this suit hasn’t been (collusively) closed, thus far is because dozens of individual humans were maimed (on land, and in the water) — and in the case of the floating razor wire barriers, at least two people… perished, in the frigid Rio Grande waters of January 2022.

We, the people are entitled to know what Abbott did, either at Trump’s bidding, or on his own — as a lawless autocrat… that got these people killed and injured.

So, either the press, or the ACLU (or yours truly, if need be) will move the able USDC Judge not to hide this clear evidence of malevolence from “we, the people”. That is well settled black letter federal law. These are… our courts, not Abbott’s. And, NOT Trump’s. Here’s the poorly argued (and likely collusive) joint federal / Texas state motion to close it up:

…Pursuant to Rule 26(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule CV-26 of the Local Rules of the Western District of Texas, the parties jointly move this Court for entry of the attached Stipulation and Proposed Order Regarding Discovery Procedures and Confidential Information to govern the use and disposition of information and documents produced in discovery in this action.

The parties anticipate that the discovery to be sought will include requests for information and documents of a confidential nature, including information protected by federal privacy laws, information that is law enforcement sensitive, and personally identifying information of non-parties to this action. The parties therefore stipulate and agree to entry of the attached Stipulation and Proposed Order Regarding Discovery Procedures and Confidential Information….

I’ll wait a tick, to see if this fails — if it does not, I will intercede. Onward.

नमस्ते