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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- Opinion
Chuck Schumer’s Despicable Attack on the Supreme Court
“If, then, the courts of justice are to be considered as the bulwarks of a limited Constitution against legislative encroachments, this consideration will afford a strong argument for the permanent tenure of judicial offices,” argued Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78. If we ever needed a pristine example of why justices are bestowed lifetime appointments…David Harsanyi -
- Opinion
Schumer Owes Kavanaugh, Gorsuch a Real Apology
It would be a gross understatement—and in no way a pun, intended or otherwise—to describe as “injudicious” what Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday to and about Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. “Injudicious” is defined by Webster’s New World College Dictionary as “showing poor judgment; not discreet or wise,” and the…Peter Parisi -
- News
Schumer Faces Rare Censure for Threatening Supreme Court Justices
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer may become only the ninth senator in the body’s history to be censured by his colleagues. Lawmakers in the Senate and House introduced resolutions to censure him Thursday, a day after Schumer made inflammatory comments that seemed to some to advocate violence if two Supreme Court justices did not rule…Fred Lucas -
- News
As Backlash Grows, Schumer Denies Threatening Gorsuch, Kavanaugh Over Abortion Case
Amid widespread condemnation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backpedaled Thursday from inflammatory remarks the day before about two conservative Supreme Court justices, but blamed political opponents for misinterpreting what he said. “I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They didn’t come out the way I intended [them] to,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. Speaking…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
In Abortion Case, Key Questions Come From Alito, Ginsburg, Sotomayor
This week, the Supreme Court heard its first major abortion case since Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh joined the court. The case, June Medical Services v. Russo, involves a Louisiana law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Admitting privileges enable doctors to accompany their patients to…Elizabeth Slattery -
- News
Schumer Threatens Gorsuch, Kavanaugh on Abortion Case: They ‘Will Pay the Price’
Editor's update: Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement Wednesday condemning Chuck Schumer's remarks, saying: "Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned two Supreme Court justices Wednesday that they…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
States Can Prosecute Illegal Aliens for Identity Theft, Supreme Court Rules
The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that state governments can prosecute illegal aliens of identity theft, including aliens who use false Social Security numbers to unlawfully gain employment. In a tight 5-4 decision, a majority of justices on the nation’s highest court ruled that there is nothing in federal immigration law that forbids state prosecutors from…Jason Hopkins -
- Opinion
In New Supreme Court Case, Religious Liberty Is at Stake
In recent years, local and state governments have forced numerous faith-based adoption and foster care agencies out of business because of their religious beliefs about marriage. While some of those agencies closed with little protest, Catholic Social Services chose to fight back in the courts. Catholic Social Services filed a lawsuit alleging that the city…Kassie Dulin -
- Opinion
The Attorney General’s Just Rejection of a Severe Prison Term for Roger Stone
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is not happy—again. And neither are other elected Democrats who have mounted a full-scale attack against Attorney General William Barr for recommending a reasonable prison sentence for Roger Stone, rather than the draconian sentence Barr’s subordinates advocated in a court filing. Schumer, D-N.Y., wants the Justice Department inspector general to investigate Barr…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Attorney General Vows Lawsuits, ‘Significant Escalation’ Against Sanctuary Jurisdictions
Attorney General William Barr vowed Monday to escalate the fight against sanctuary jurisdictions and announced a round of lawsuits that target states and localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The top attorney for the Trump administration announced that the Department of Justice would be slapping several states and localities with lawsuits over…Jason Hopkins -
- News
Clarence Thomas Says New Ethics Rule Will ‘Silence’ Federalist Society
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas panned a draft ethics rule that would dissuade judges from formally enrolling in ideological groups like the Federalist Society and its liberal counterpart, the American Constitution Society. Speaking [last week] at a Federalist Society conference in Florida, Thomas suggested the proposal is an attempt to silence the conservative lawyers group….Kevin Daley -
- News
Attorney General Warns of ‘Militant Secular Effort’ to Drive Out Religion
Attorney General William Barr says that religious Americans aren't imposing their beliefs on others, but that “militant secularists” are imposing their values on people of faith. Discussing religious freedom in the U.S. during an interview Tuesday on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel, Barr warned that religion is being “driven out of the marketplace of ideas,” and that “there’s an organized,…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Clarence Thomas, in His Own Words, Coming to a Theater Near You
It has been said that the very moment a man finds himself, he finds God. That captures the story of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, a man of deep faith whose youthful struggles with racism caused that faith to be shaken, but who later returned to it more deeply and more resolutely because of his…Star Parker -
- Opinion
The Great American Story of Clarence Thomas
Justice Clarence Thomas is famously quiet on the Supreme Court. But a new movie, “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words,” is drawn from an exclusive interview with Thomas. Filmmaker Michael Pack shares what he learned about Thomas. Read a lightly edited transcript of the interview, pasted below, or listen on the podcast: We…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Kamala Harris, Advocacy Groups Push to Suspend Judicial Confirmations During Impeachment Trial
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and a coalition of left-wing advocacy groups are pressing Senate Republicans to suspend consideration of judicial nominations during President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Harris, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said it would be “wholly inappropriate” to confirm judges while the Senate considers whether Trump should be removed from office. “The president…Kevin Daley -
- News
Attorney General Reveals Stricter Procedures for Counterintelligence Investigations of Presidential Campaigns
The attorney general and FBI director will have to approve counterintelligence investigations of future presidential campaigns, Attorney General William Barr said at a press conference Monday. “The opening of a counterintelligence investigation of a presidential campaign would be something that the director of the FBI would have to sign off on and the attorney general…Chuck Ross -
- News
Clarence Thomas Skewers Joe Biden, ’91 Hearings in New Documentary
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas criticizes former Vice President Joe Biden’s stewardship of his 1991 Senate confirmation hearings in a forthcoming documentary called “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words.” At one juncture of the film, from Manifold Productions, Thomas is asked about a colloquy with Biden over natural law philosophy and the Constitution….Kevin Daley -
- News
Trump Judicial Adviser Teams Up With Conservative PR Executive in New Initiative
One of the leading voices behind President Donald Trump’s drive to appoint originalist judges to the federal courts is teaming up with an influential public relations executive in the Washington area to launch a new project. Leonard Leo is leaving his post running the Federalist Society, a network of conservatives lawyers, and is partnering with…Fred Lucas -
- News
200 Members of Congress Urge the Supreme Court to Reconsider Roe
More than 200 members of Congress urged the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade on Thursday, ahead of a March case concerning the constitutionality of a Louisiana regulation on abortion providers. The lawmakers, who include 39 senators and 168 members of the House of Representatives, filed a legal brief arguing abortion case law is haphazard and…Kevin Daley -
- Opinion
Clarence Thomas Tells His Story in a New Documentary
Who is Clarence Thomas? Every pundit has an opinion, but few actually know him. Now, we all have an opportunity to hear his story in his own voice. In a remarkable documentary by Michael and Gina Pack, “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words,” the famously silent justice tells his life story. And…GianCarlo Canaparo