The
Supreme Court already ruled in June 2025 (in Trump v. CASA) that
federal courts generally cannot issue nationwide injunctions against
presidential policies, limiting judges to blocking actions only for the
specific parties in a lawsuit, not the entire country. This decision
significantly shifts power, making it harder for courts to block executive
actions quickly, though it leaves open the possibility for class-action suits
and Congress to potentially restore broader judicial power through new
legislation, with future cases expected to test these new boundaries, like the
upcoming review of the birthright citizenship order.
Key Rulings & Their Impact:
No Universal Injunctions: In Trump v. CASA Inc. (June 2025), the Court decided federal courts lack the authority to block policies nationwide, only applying injunctions to the plaintiffs involved in the case.
Based
on Law, Not Equity: The ruling interpreted the Judiciary Act of 1789,
finding traditional equity powers didn't include universal injunctions, not
based on the Constitution directly.
Greater Presidential Power: This limits a key check on presidential power, allowing policies to be enforced against some while blocked for others, creating a legal patchwork.
What's Next for 2025 & Beyond:
Case-by-Case Challenges: Expect more lawsuits targeting specific individuals or groups, potentially leading to numerous lawsuits on the same issue as seen with the birthright citizenship order.
Class Actions: Plaintiffs will likely focus more on class action lawsuits (like the one filed by the ACLU) to achieve broader relief.
Congressional Action: Congress could pass new laws to restore broader judicial review powers, as the ruling was statutory, not constitutional.
Future
Cases: The Court will continue to hear cases, like the upcoming review of
the birthright citizenship order (arguments in 2026), testing how these new
limitations play out in practice.
In essence, the Court has significantly curtailed federal judges' ability to stop presidential agendas broadly, forcing new legal strategies from challengers and increasing the Executive Branch's operational freedom.
As of December 11, 2025, the Supreme Court has already issued major rulings that significantly alter the scope of federal judges' jurisdiction over presidential decisions and actions. The primary decision in 2025 limited the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions against executive actions.
Here are the key rulings the Supreme Court has delivered related to federal judicial power over the presidency:
Trump v. CASA, Inc. (June 2025): In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled that federal district courts generally lack the statutory authority under the Judiciary Act of 1789 to issue "universal" or nationwide injunctions that block government policies or presidential executive orders across the entire country. This means that federal judges can typically only grant relief to the specific plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit, making it harder for the judiciary to halt presidential agendas nationwide. This ruling has been widely viewed as a major expansion of presidential power by limiting a key judicial check.
Trump v. United States (July 2024): The Supreme Court issued a landmark 6-3 decision holding that a former President is entitled to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within their "core" constitutional duties (such as pardoning individuals or directing the Solicitor General) and at least presumptive immunity for other official acts. The Court remanded the case to lower courts to determine which of President Trump's actions related to the 2020 election subversion charges were "official" versus "unofficial" acts not protected by immunity.
The overall trend of recent rulings has been interpreted as limiting the judiciary's ability to restrain presidential actions.
One related case currently pending argument this term is Trump v. Slaughter, which considers the president's power to fire members of independent regulatory agencies without cause. A decision is expected in 2026.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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