Breaking News: Court Blocks Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

A federal judge's decision accuses U.S. Commerce Secretary of playing politics with the U.S. Census.

1 minute read

January 15, 2019, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


U.S. Census Bureau

Maria Dryfhout / Shutterstock

Laura Neumeister reports on the decision today by Judge Jesse M. Furman to block the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

The decision claims Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross made the decision to add the question without regard for evidence or proper procedure.

"He failed to consider several important aspects of the problem; alternately ignored, cherry-picked, or badly misconstrued the evidence in the record before him; acted irrationally both in light of that evidence and his own stated decisional criteria; and failed to justify significant departures from past policies and practices," writes Judge Furman in the decision.

The ruling came in a case brought by 18 states, Washington, D.C., and 15 municipalities and counties. Neumeister reports that another case involving the state of California has yet to be decided, so the issue is far from resolved.

More coverage is available from an article by Corinne Ramey that is behind the Wall Street Journal's paywall.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in AP News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit