Trump courts standoff hits Congress: What Mike Johnson privately told lawmakers
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., recently met privately with members of the House Judiciary Committee to discuss strategies for combating “activist judges” who have been blocking President Donald Trump’s agenda. The meeting was described as a “brainstorming” session aimed at finding ways to address the issue.
The House is set to vote next week on a bill that would limit U.S. district judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. While the bill proposed by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is considered a good start, many Republicans on the committee believe that more reform is needed.
According to Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., who spoke with Fox News Digital, the meeting with Speaker Johnson focused on exploring various options for addressing the issue of activist judges. One topic of discussion was the possibility of using Congress’ appropriations powers to rein in judges who are perceived as overstepping their authority.
Additionally, there was talk of implementing an expedited appeals process to fast-track appeals in cases where injunctions have been issued. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., suggested that this could be a viable solution to the problem of judges keeping administration policies in limbo.
During the meeting, Speaker Johnson also indicated that he was in close communication with the White House regarding the GOP’s judiciary strategy. He reportedly encouraged House Judiciary Republicans to support the No Rogue Rulings Act, which is expected to come up for a vote next week.
The No Rogue Rulings Act, led by Rep. Issa, aims to limit the scope of orders issued by district court judges, thereby preventing them from halting Trump’s policies nationwide. The legislation also includes provisions to address the issue of “judge-shopping,” where plaintiffs seek out sympathetic judges to hear their cases.
Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kan., who has an amendment attached to Issa’s bill, emphasized the importance of addressing long-term reforms that will improve the judicial system for years to come.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is expected to hold a hearing on judicial activism on April 1 to further explore potential solutions to the issue.
Overall, the meeting between Speaker Johnson and House Judiciary Committee members was a productive discussion on how to tackle activist judges and ensure that the rule of law is upheld. The GOP remains committed to finding effective solutions to address this pressing issue and protect the integrity of the judicial system.
