Despite strongly criticizing the state’s top legal officer, a Miami federal judge on Thursday put off deciding whether to hold Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in contempt of court in a politically fraught immigration case.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams found Uthmeier violated her temporary restraining order to stop enforcing a new state law that makes it a crime for immigrants lacking permanent legal status to enter Florida after illegally crossing into the United States.

At Thursday’s hearing, Williams said the attorney general, who was not present, was essentially advising police agencies to “go out and arrest, there’s nothing stopping you.”

“What about my order is improper, unlawful and illegitimate?” an irked Williams asked Uthmeier’s attorney, pointing out there w

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