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I’m a lowly Santa Barbara County judge — but I’m more powerful than the president

A county judge in Santa Barbara has decided that she has more power than the President of the United States to regulate American energy supplies in wartime.

Last month, Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to allow Sable Offshore Corp. to resume operations, pumping 60,000 barrels per day to expand domestic supply and reduce prices.

It is the same power that Joe Biden used in 2022 to order the production of baby formula.

So what gives a lowly Santa Barbara Superior Court judge the power to override federal, and presidential, authority?

The net effect of Judge Donna Geck’s ruling is that Sable has to stop producing oil. Perhaps for months.

Which is absurd. No wonder companies are leaving California in a hurry.

Here’s the legalese involved.

The Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution says that federal........

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