Legal News
Reports on lawmaking, constitutional issues, and court cases. The Daily Signal combines news reporting with conservative commentary and legal analysis.
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news
Show the Numbers: Conservative Watchdog Sues Trump’s DHS for Concrete Deportation Count
A conservative watchdog group has sued the Department of Homeland Security seeking data on the “actual” number of deportations of illegal immigrants. The Oversight Project filed two lawsuits this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the Freedom of Information Act, claiming that “inflated” deportation counts have enabled some Republicans… -
news
‘Double Standard of Justice’: Grassley Reveals Messages on Jack Smith’s Team and Classified Materials
Newly released messages appear to show that Biden Justice Department officials, including those working for former special counsel Jack Smith, possibly mishandled classified information. Smith’s team investigated President Donald Trump, then out of office, from late 2022 through 2024, for alleged mishandling of classified material. Smith also investigated Trump for his conduct in challenging the… -
news
After Contentious Rulings, 2 Supreme Court Justices to Appear Before Congressional Panel Next Week
After a highly eventful session of Supreme Court rulings, two justices will testify before Congress next week. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan will testify before the House Appropriations Committee July 14 about the budget for the Supreme Court. Barrett, nominated by President Donald Trump in 2020, is considered part of the conservative wing… -
analysis
Not Just West Virginia or Idaho: Supreme Court Protects Women’s Sports in Several States
As part of the cases handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court this term, the six conservative justices delivered a win for women’s sports last week. While the cases came out of West Virginia and Idaho, the high court’s majority sent a message that reverberated in 25 states, including Ohio. In the combined cases of… -
news
Even After SCOTUS Citizenship Ruling, Trump Has These Options to Fight Birth Tourism
Although the Supreme Court ruled in favor of birthright citizenship last week, the Trump administration and Congress could still take action to reduce the effect of the policy. Vice President JD Vance endorsed a proposal to restrict birthright citizenship in the U.S. territories, citing Roger Severino, vice president of economic and domestic policy at The… -
news
Supreme Court Won’t Block Texas App Store Age Verification Law
REUTERS—The Supreme Court declined on Monday to block a Texas law requiring app stores and developers to verify the age of mobile device users and for minors to obtain parental consent to download apps or make purchases, acting in a challenge on free speech grounds by a technology industry group and students. The justices denied requests by… -
opinion
Congress Can Still Ban Birthright Citizenship. Here’s How.
The Supreme Court has committed a grievous moral and legal error in Trump v. Barbara, the landmark case on birthright citizenship. In holding that the 14th Amendment confers automatic citizenship on virtually all children born on American soil, the court has severely vitiated the sanctity of American citizenship—in this “America 250” celebration year, no less…. -
opinion
The Media Eagerly Take the Wrong Side of the Facts on Girls Sports
Journalists love to boast that they are “Facts First” people, that they are the brave souls seeking out “truth.” But when it comes to transgenderism, facts go out the window, and truth is triggering. When the Supreme Court upheld state bans on boys in girls sports, NBC anchor Craig Melvin sounded apologetic in live coverage…. -
news
Could Voting While Uniformed Be a Problem? Lawsuit Says Arizona Rule Restricts Law Enforcement at Polling Places
An Arizona election policy could make it more difficult for law enforcement, service members, or other uniform-wearing individuals to vote, according to a federal lawsuit. Democrats are frequently eager to use the phrase “voter suppression” when talking about voter ID or other election procedures to verify voter eligibility. But Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes,… -
news
Deep State Strikes, as EPA Employees Who Signed Anti-Trump Letter Sue Over Firing
In another case of federal bureaucrats challenging elected leaders, seven employees of the Environmental Protection Agency who signed onto a public letter opposing President Donald Trump were eventually ousted. Now they’re suing to get their jobs back. The terminated employees are suing with the backing of the litigation group Democracy Forward. Democrat lawyer Marc Elias… -
opinion
Victor Davis Hanson: The Legal Reality of Birthright Citizenship and the Supreme Court’s Defection
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to Victor Davis Hanson’s own YouTube channel to watch past episodes. Sami Winc: Your thoughts on this birthright citizenship decision by the Supreme Court? Victor Davis Hanson: Well, what… -
news
States-Only Abortion Experiment ‘a Failure’: An Inside Look at the Pro-Life Movement’s Federal Strategy
A pro-life leader told the Daily Signal that returning the issue of abortion to the states was a strategic failure of the movement, adding that pro-life advocates must now turn to a federal strategy. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of SBA Pro-Life America, said the movement is “not better off” following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs… -
Clinton-Appointed Judge Blocks US Postal Service’s Proposed Restrictions on Mail-In Voting
REUTERS—A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the U.S. Postal Service’s proposed restrictions on mail-in voting, finding that they violated a settlement with a leading civil rights group that required expedited mail-in ballot handling. The decision by Washington-based U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan marked the second defeat in the courts in as many weeks for U.S…. -
news
DOJ Sues California, Virginia Over Gun Restrictions After Supreme Court Ruling
The Justice Department has filed lawsuits against both California and Virginia over the states’ gun restrictions. On Wednesday, the Justice Department sued to stop California’s newly enacted ban on Glocks, a popular handgun. The California law that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in June would ban the retail purchase of common handguns manufactured by Glock and… -
opinion
Supreme Court Says 14th Amendment Guarantees Birthright Citizenship to Children of Illegal Aliens and Tourists
In Trump v. Barbara, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority of justices that the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment requires all children born within the United States to automatically qualify as citizens at birth. The 14th Amendment provides, in part, that “[a]ll persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject… -
opinion
Don’t Buy Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Sleight of Hand on Women’s Sports
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson tried to pull a fast one on the American people Tuesday. The court upheld West Virginia’s law preventing men from competing in women’s sports, finding that the law does not constitute discrimination on the basis of sex in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The… -
opinion
Supreme Court Decides ‘Day’ Does Not Mean Day in Watson v. RNC
What’s in a word? Does “day” really mean day? That’s essentially the issue the Supreme Court was asked to decide in Watson v. RNC, where Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for a 5-4 majority that “Election Day,” as used in a statute passed by Congress, does not really mean a single day. Justice Samuel Alito,… -
news
Supreme Court to Decide Fate of State and Local Gun Bans in Major Second Amendment Showdown
The Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will consider whether states and local governments can ban semiautomatic rifles like the AR-15. The court will review two challenges to bans in Cook County, Illinois, and the state of Connecticut in its next session, which begins in October. Doug Hamlin, CEO of the National Rifle Association, supported the… -
news
Conservatives Crackdown On Birth Tourism After SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship Ruling
After the Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump’s motion to restrict birthright citizenship on Tuesday, both chambers of Congress are overseeing legislation that would stop foreign travelers from coming to the United States to give birth to a child granted American citizen status. In the upper chamber, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called on his… -
analysis
‘MEDIEVAL’: Justices Thomas, Alito Argue ‘Birthright Citizenship’ Ruling Reverses the Declaration of Independence on Its 250th Anniversary
Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito tore into the court’s majority for imposing a “medieval” rule on “birthright citizenship” that negates the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, days before the 250th anniversary of America’s founding document. Both justices issued dissenting opinions in Trump v. Barbara (2026), in which the court’s 6-3 majority…