Courts News
The Daily Signal covers courts news with reporting, analysis, and commentary on major cases, the Supreme Court, and the judicial system.
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news
Judge Orders Removal of Trump’s Name From Kennedy Center
A federal judge on Friday ordered the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. “The Kennedy Center’s organic statute makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy,” U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper of the District of… -
news
US Judge Won’t Block Trump’s Mail-In Voting Executive Order for Now
REUTERS—A U.S. judge on Thursday declined to immediately block President Donald Trump’s executive order tightening rules on mail-in voting, but left the door open for the Democratic Party to challenge it again after the administration takes further steps to implement the measure. Washington-based U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols’ order did not address whether Trump’s March 31… -
news
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s $1.8 Billion ‘Weaponization’ Fund
REUTERS—A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from setting up a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate victims of what Trump has called government “weaponization.” The order by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia blocks the Trump administration from “taking any further action” to set up… -
opinion
How Left-Wing Climate Plaintiffs Have Hijacked the Federal Judiciary
The defining feature of the American judicial system is that every litigant walks into the courtroom with the belief that they will have a fair shot to present their case. That foundational principle is under assault. Several weeks ago, the Oversight Project published a report highlighting the threat to judicial independence posed by the left-wing… -
opinion
Foreign Money Is Gaming Our Courts. American Families Are Paying for It.
For years, Democrats screamed about “foreign interference.” But while they were chasing ghosts on cable news, foreign influence was infiltrating our courts right here at home—making a killing and sticking American families with the bill. This is why the Tackling Predatory Litigation Funding Act, introduced by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., is so important. It will stop a growing industry that is letting outside foreign investors with anti-America First interests… -
news
Trump Administration Wins Court Fight as Judge Clears ICE Operations Near Schools
The Trump administration scored a legal victory in combating illegal immigration when a federal judge cleared the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to operate near schools, for now. The lawsuit brought by Minnesota public school districts sought a temporary injunction against immigration enforcement agents having a presence near schools, claiming it increased absenteeism… -
opinion
Thomas: Can Virginians Count on a Simple Reading of the Law?
The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments from Republican plaintiffs and Democrat defendants regarding the legality of the April 21 redistricting referendum. The issue before the court is the process the General Assembly used to approve a special election for redrawing the commonwealth’s congressional districts. The Supreme Court heard two challenges. The first case… -
opinion
Despicable: Judge Declares Accused Killer ‘Incapable’ Despite Decades of Crimes
Another day, another example of how the Left’s view of justice is toxic to a free society. A state court on Tuesday pronounced DeCarlos Brown Jr., the man accused of killing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in a random knife attack on a North Carolina train, “incapable to proceed” until a psychiatric evaluation is complete. From my… -
news
Judge in Kirk Assassination Case Denies Defense Motion on Prosecutor
A Utah judge on Tuesday denied a motion from the defense of the accused killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to disqualify a prosecutor in the case. District Court Judge Tony Graf held a hearing earlier this month regarding a motion by defendant Tyler Robinson’s lawyers to disqualify Chad Grunander, a deputy state prosecutor in… -
news
Judge Weighs in on War Department Censure of Sen. Mark Kelly
A federal judge stopped War Secretary Pete Hegseth—at least temporarily—from censuring Sen. Mark Kelly for his role in a video telling American soldiers to refuse illegal orders. Judge Rich Leon, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, on Thursday ruled in favor of Kelly, D-Ariz., a retired Navy captain, who had joined five other Democrat members… -
opinion
Judge in Charlie Kirk Case to Decide Whether to Boot Prosecutors
Last week’s hearing in the Charlie Kirk murder case was a legal harbinger of things to come. As we await Utah State trial Judge Tony Graf’s written decision later this month on whether or not to recuse the Utah County Attorney’s Office from the capital murder case against Tyler Robinson, it’s becoming more evident that… -
news
Noem Celebrates Court ‘Win’ on Deportations
A federal appeals court is allowing the Trump administration to proceed with plans to end temporary immigration protections for about 89,000 aliens from Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. On Monday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily lifted a lower court’s order blocking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from moving to end Temporary Protected Status… -
news
With Judge’s Ruling on TPS, Springfield Is Back in the News
Prominent Ohio lawmakers have been reacting swiftly to a last-minute court ruling maintaining Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States. Springfield, Ohio, has been the epicenter of the effort to end TPS for Haitian migrants. The Ruling and Reactions On Monday night, Judge Ana Reyes blocked the Trump administration from ending TPS for… -
news
Leftist Group Dodges Accountability for ‘Hate Group’ Accusation After Judge Blocks Discovery
A federal judge dismissed a conservative nonprofit’s defamation lawsuit against the Southern Poverty Law Center Wednesday, reversing a previous judge’s theory of the case. Critics say the SPLC routinely smears mainstream conservative and Christian groups by placing them on a “hate map” with chapters of the Ku Klux Klan. D.A. King, founder of the Dustin… -
news
Maduro Arrives in Court and Enters Plea
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro pleaded “not guilty” to federal narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges on Monday, two days after the U.S. captured him from his residence in Caracas. Appearing in a federal court in New York City, Maduro told the judge in Spanish through an interpreter, “I am not guilty,” adding, “I am a decent… -
news
Judge Hands Media Major Win in Charlie Kirk Murder Trial
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Utah Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf ordered on Monday that audio and transcripts of a closed hearing surrounding Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, can be released with redactions. In a virtual hearing, Graf ruled that the transcript of a hearing that took place in October can be issued with some… -
news
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Released Following Judge’s Order
A federal judge is blocking U.S. immigration officials from re-detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia after the illegal alien was ordered released. Abrego Garcia appeared for a scheduled Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday morning, but immigration officials were blocked from re-detaining him due to a judge’s order. The order comes after U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland granted Abrego Garcia’s petition for release from immigration… -
opinion
Here Are the Most Important Election Cases Playing Out in Courts Before Midterms
With Election Day just around the corner in what might turn out to be one of the most significant midterm congressional elections in many years, lawyers are still in the courts fighting over the rules governing the casting and counting of votes. From the status of undated mail-in ballots to the legality of drop boxes… -
news
After Courts Force Jewish University to Host LGBTQ Campus Group, University Shuts Down All Clubs
Yeshiva University has shut down all its campus clubs following a Supreme Court decision that would have forced the university to recognize an LGBTQ group on campus. The university administration sent an email to students over the weekend, saying that the school will “Hold off on all undergraduate club activities while it immediately takes steps to… -
opinion
Courts to Determine If Schools Can Hide Information From Parents About Their Kids
If you sent your 9-year-old daughter to school and she broke her arm playing on the playground, but the school didn’t tell you, that would be grounds for a harsh conversation with administrators, if not a lawsuit, right? There are school policies and state and federal laws that outline parameters for transparency between parents, students,…