Judge James L Robart has made headlines after blocking the US President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration. But who is he, and why might his ruling have shocked the Trump administration?
The 69-year-old judge was appointed to the bench by then-president George W Bush in 2004, following a distinguished 30-year career in private practice that included his selection to the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honour bestowed on less than 1 per cent of lawyers.
But the judge made the most high-profile ruling of his tenure on Friday when he temporarily invalidated Mr Trump's ban on travel to the US from seven primarily-Muslim nations.
Washington state sued to block the order with support from Minnesota and major corporations including Microsoft, Amazon and Expedia, arguing that it is unconstitutional and would harm its residents, and Judge Robart held that the state was likely correct.
Source: CNN
Judge Robart's views
During Friday's hearing Judge Robart grilled a Justice Department lawyer, Michelle Bennett, asking if there had been any terrorist attacks by people from the seven counties since the September 11 attacks. Ms Bennett said she didn't know.
"The answer is none," Judge Robart responded.
"You're here arguing we have to protect from these individuals from these countries, and there's no support for that."
Donald Trump vows to restore US travel ban
US President Donald Trump has vowed to reinstate his controversial travel ban "for the safety of our country", as visa holders affected by the action scramble to board US-bound flights, fearing they only have a short window to enter the country.
"We'll win. For the safety of our country, we'll win," Mr Trump told reporters at his private Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Mr Trump had earlier called the ruling by the "so-called judge" ridiculous.
"Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. A terrible decision," he tweeted.
The Justice Department said it was the "sovereign prerogative" of a president to admit or exclude immigrants, and its appeal cited a "basic principle that an alien seeking initial admission to the United States requests a privilege and has no constitutional rights regarding his application".
Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, said Mr Trump's criticism of Judge James L Robart's decision could make it tougher for Justice Department attorneys as they seek to defend the executive order.
"It's hard for the President to demand that courts respect his inherent authority when he is disrespecting the inherent authority of the judiciary," he said.
Source: Twitter
'Get on the quickest flight ASAP'
The ban suspended America's refugee program and halted immigration to the US from seven Muslim-majority countries that the Government said raised terrorism concerns.
Amid uncertainty over whether the Justice Department would be granted an emergency freeze of the judge's order, people with pre-approved visas who could travel immediately were being urged to do so.
Rula Aoun, director of the Arab American Civil Rights League in Dearborn, Michigan, was advising people to hurry.
"We're telling them to get on the quickest flight ASAP," said Ms Aoun, whose group filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in federal court in Detroit asking a judge to declare Mr Trump's immigration order unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has moved to begin admitting refugees, including Syrians, as soon as Monday.
An email from the State Department's refugee office said the US Government was working with its legal team and interagency and overseas partners to comply with the ruling, with an official saying "expect some refugees to arrive Monday".
