Ari Shapiro

And what power does the judicial branch have if the president simply refuses to comply? From NPR, I'm Ari Shapiro. What happens if the executive branch ignores the judicial branch? Is that a constitutional crisis? Many legal experts have been looking at this question right now, including University of Virginia law professor Amanda Frost. Welcome. Good to have you here. Thank you for having me.

I know that law professors have debated for many years what a constitutional crisis actually technically is. How do you define it?

I know that law professors have debated for many years what a constitutional crisis actually technically is. How do you define it?

I know that law professors have debated for many years what a constitutional crisis actually technically is. How do you define it?

blatantly, flagrantly, and regularly. So you can maybe dabble in a little judicial defiance and it's not quite a crisis in your view?

blatantly, flagrantly, and regularly. So you can maybe dabble in a little judicial defiance and it's not quite a crisis in your view?

blatantly, flagrantly, and regularly. So you can maybe dabble in a little judicial defiance and it's not quite a crisis in your view?

So let's talk about those checks and balances. Congress's role is to enact laws. The executive branch carries out the laws. Technically speaking, what is the role of the judicial branch here?

So let's talk about those checks and balances. Congress's role is to enact laws. The executive branch carries out the laws. Technically speaking, what is the role of the judicial branch here?

So let's talk about those checks and balances. Congress's role is to enact laws. The executive branch carries out the laws. Technically speaking, what is the role of the judicial branch here?

Which some argued President Trump has done in the last few weeks.

Which some argued President Trump has done in the last few weeks.

Which some argued President Trump has done in the last few weeks.

we are beginning to see the courts try to restrain the executive, but we're also seeing the executive kind of flip the bird to the courts in some respect. Does that give you cause for concern?

we are beginning to see the courts try to restrain the executive, but we're also seeing the executive kind of flip the bird to the courts in some respect. Does that give you cause for concern?

we are beginning to see the courts try to restrain the executive, but we're also seeing the executive kind of flip the bird to the courts in some respect. Does that give you cause for concern?

Let's talk about what happens if the executive does turn its back on a legitimate court order. Civilians defy judicial orders all the time and they get punished for it with fines or with jail time. Have we ever seen a president defy a judicial order?

Let's talk about what happens if the executive does turn its back on a legitimate court order. Civilians defy judicial orders all the time and they get punished for it with fines or with jail time. Have we ever seen a president defy a judicial order?

Let's talk about what happens if the executive does turn its back on a legitimate court order. Civilians defy judicial orders all the time and they get punished for it with fines or with jail time. Have we ever seen a president defy a judicial order?

We heard that quote from J.D. Vance in 2021 before he was in the government where he referenced Andrew Jackson, who, as president, said, the chief justice has made his ruling, now let him enforce it. Do courts have an enforcement mechanism?