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
Justices Invoke Founders’ Drinking Habits in Weighing Gun Ban for Drug Users
Most justices appeared skeptical of a federal law banning gun possession for illegal drug users and addicts during Supreme Court arguments Monday. Intermingling gun rights and the war on drugs, the case has put the ACLU and the National Rifle Association on the same side, while President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is defending the existing…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
It’s Official: Illegal Alien-Loving Dems Cannot Stand American Citizens
President Donald Trump could not have made it easier for congressional Democrats. During Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, Trump’s simple offer to them, and their Republican counterparts, was like a college professor telling his students: “Anyone who wants 10 points of extra credit, please stand up if you believe the Earth is round.”…Deroy Murdock -
- Analysis
A Legal Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling
The Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs by a vote of 6-3, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority. Notably, the majority opinion made clear: “We claim no special competence in matters of economics or foreign affairs. We claim only,…Stefan Padfield -
- News
5-Year-Old’s Near-Death Experience Moves Congress to Stop Illegal Aliens From Truck Driving
This story has been updated to include comment from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. Congressional Republicans are pushing to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses in the wake of President Donald Trump acknowledging 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman during his State of the Union address. Dalilah was nearly killed in 2022 by Partap Singh, an illegal…Pedro Rodriguez -
- 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…Fred Lucas -
- News
$1 Billion on the Line as Supreme Court Could Rewrite US-Cuba Lawsuits
Justices heard arguments Monday in two disputes involving U.S.-Cuba relations that could be worth more than $1 billion. Oil giant ExxonMobil is a plaintiff in one of the cases, while major cruise lines, led by Royal Caribbean, are defendants in the other. A majority of justices seemed poised to side with ExxonMobil, while both conservative…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Judicial Tyranny Is a Threat to the Rule of Law
Just because someone is wearing a black robe doesn’t mean they’re upholding the rule of law. Consider some recent judicial rulings. Last November, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem published a notice ending Temporary Protected Status for Haitians. Leave aside the merits of that decision. The law is clear that this decision belongs to…Victor Joecks -
- News
Law Enforcement Kills Armed Man Seeking to Enter Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Resort, Officials Say
U.S. Secret Service agents shot and killed a man in his 20s after he tried to unlawfully enter a secure perimeter at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Secret Service said Sunday morning. Trump, who is currently in Washington, was not at the site at the time. The man in…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal Falters Under Growing Political and Legal Fire
One of the largest proposed mergers in business history will have to wait a little longer. Netflix, which is trying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery recently granted WBD a seven-day pause so it can explore another offer from Paramount Skydance. Cue a sigh of relief from many who are worried that purchasing Warner Bros. would make Netflix—the nation’s…Micahel J. Hough -
- Opinion
SCOTUS Removes IEEPA Tariffs From Toolbox, Now Is Time for the BAT
In a 6 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s attempt to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, IEEPA, lacked constitutional footing because the statute does not clearly authorize tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. However, that does not mean that the presidency has been…Miles Pollard -
- News
Trump Announces Alternative Tariff Plan After Supreme Court Ruling
President Donald Trump said the Supreme Court ruling against his tariffs actually affirms his authority to levy additional national security tariffs, and announced a 10% global tariff on Friday. In a 6-3 decision Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump did not have legal authority to impose his tariffs in Canada, Mexico, and China. …Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
Texas’ Proposition 10 a Critical Test Case for Prohibiting Sharia Law
Early voting for the March 3 Texas primary elections is open now. It began Tuesday, Feb. 17, and runs through Friday, Feb. 27. Most days have no lines, hours are flexible, and all you need is a photo ID. While the primary chooses party nominees for November, one proposition on the ballot is a defining…Peter McIlvenna -
- News
‘SEVERE’ THREAT TO FREE SPEECH: X Appeals EU Censorship Fine
The social media platform X has formally challenged the European Commission’s 120 million euro fine, arguing that the fine violates its due process under other European Union statutes. The challenge, if successful, may significantly alter the underlying EU law, the Digital Services Act, which critics have described as a weapon of “global censorship.” “X is…Tyler O’Neil -
- News
Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs Core to Trump Economic Agenda
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s executive actions on tariffs exceeded his constitutional authority. During oral arguments in November, even Trump-appointed justices seemed skeptical of the government’s arguments that the president could impose tariffs without congressional approval. In the case of Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, two companies sued…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
The Climate Fox in the Judicial Henhouse
For decades, judicial education has served a narrow but vital purpose: helping judges understand complex technical issues without telling them how to rule. That boundary matters. Once judicial education becomes advocacy, courts stop acting as neutral arbiters and begin functioning as instruments of policy enforcement. The Federal Judicial Center crossed that line. In endorsing the…Jason Isaac -
- News
ACLU Looks to Dismantle Ohio Election Integrity Law
As President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans seek to protect election integrity at the federal level with the SAVE America Act, Ohio is fighting its own battle. Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union, representing the League of Women Voters of Ohio and CAIR-Northern Ohio, filed a lawsuit against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose…Rebecca Downs -
- News
Supreme Court Could Soon Release Sweeping Opinions on These Big Issues
The Supreme Court announced it will release opinions beginning on Friday, amid speculation about the future of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, new congressional maps, and an expected strike at the “deep state.” In addition to the Feb. 20 opinions, the high court indicated it would release additional opinions on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, SCOTUS…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Endangerment Finding Rescission Major Win for Science and the Rule of Law
The Trump administration’s decision to rescind the endangerment finding regarding carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles is a huge win for all Americans—and the environment. To recap, the Supreme Court in 2007 ruled that so-called greenhouse gases were pollutants and could be regulated under the Clean Air Act—if they contribute to dangerous air pollution. Then President…Jack Spencer -
- 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…Fred Lucas -
- News
EXCLUSIVE: DHS Slams Democrats for ‘Vile Attacks’ on Law Enforcement
President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security slammed Democrats for “vile attacks” against U.S. law enforcement following a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday. “In yesterday’s hearing, Democrats doubled down on their vile attacks on our law enforcement, comparing them to Nazis and the secret police and calling them thugs,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said…Virginia Allen