At times, judges took over from the arguing attorneys, the Justice Department, Trump’s personal legal team and the DC and Maryland state attorneys general offices to argue for or against the President themselves. “We are winging it. If this isn’t off the rails, then I don’t know what is,” said Judge Harvie Wilkinson III, a Reagan appointee who’s been on the federal appellate bench at least a half decade longer than any other judge in the wood-paneled room Thursday.

“There are, there are other suits involving congressional subpoenas and everything that presents closer questions, but this one’s a lemon,” he added. “It’s the weakest of the cases that are springing up like jimsonweed against the presidency in this environment.”