Top committee to examine federal judges’ onslaught of nationwide orders against Trump
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a hearing to address the surge of nationwide orders issued against the Trump administration by federal district judges. Last week, Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced the details of the event, scheduled one day after the House committee’s hearing on the same topic.
“Since the courts and the executive branch are on an unsustainable collision course, Congress must intervene and provide clarity,” Grassley stated. “Our hearings will explore legislative solutions to restore the balance of power.”
The hearing, titled “Rule by District Judges II: Exploring Legislative Solutions to the Bipartisan Problem of Universal Injunctions,” will feature testimony from legal experts including John N. Matthews Professor of Law at Notre Dame, Samuel Bray, and partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, Jesse Panuccio, who previously served as acting associate attorney general at the Department of Justice. Additionally, Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Federal Courts at Georgetown University Law Center, Stephen I. Vladeck, will also provide insight.
After unveiling the details of the hearing, Grassley introduced his own bill to address the issue of nationwide injunctions. He expressed concern over the use of these injunctions as a tool to hinder President Trump’s agenda and emphasized the need for a legislative solution to prevent their misuse.
Grassley’s proposed legislation aims to limit the lower courts’ ability to issue nationwide orders, preventing them from obstructing legitimate executive actions. The bill also seeks to restrict judges from granting orders to entities or individuals who are not directly involved in the lawsuit.
While similar bills have been introduced by other GOP lawmakers in both the Senate and House, it remains uncertain whether the issue will receive floor votes, as it would require more than 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a potential filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has not provided extensive details on the matter and suggested that the appeals process may ultimately resolve the issue.
President Trump has expressed frustration with nationwide injunctions and has called for prompt action to address the situation. He warned of the potential consequences of allowing “radical left judges” to continue issuing such injunctions.
“If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not rectify this toxic and unprecedented situation immediately, our country is in serious trouble,” Trump emphasized.
The upcoming hearing and Grassley’s proposed legislation underscore the ongoing debate surrounding nationwide injunctions and the need for congressional intervention to address this issue. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
