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
Judge: Minnesota Can’t Discriminate Against Religious Schools
A federal judge Friday struck down a Minnesota law barring colleges that require statements of faith from a state-funded program. U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel said the law, signed by Gov. Tim Walz in 2023, violated both the First Amendment and the Minnesota Constitution by disqualifying “‘some private schools’ from funding ‘solely because they… -
news
Congressman Seeks Murder Charges for Fentanyl Traffickers
THE CENTER SQUARE—Fentanyl dealers would face tough new criminal penalties under a proposal filed by a Republican New York congressman that calls for charging those convicted of trafficking the drug with attempted murder. The Fentanyl Kills Act, refiled by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., is the latest proposal aimed at cracking down on the sale and… -
news
Trump to Direct Prosecution of Flag Burners
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Monday morning directing the prosecution of those who burn the American flag. This comes amid an increase in protests in which rioters desecrate the American flag. Anti-Israel protesters lowered three American flags outside Union Station last summer and burned them alongside an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin… -
news
Court Upholds Ban on ‘Unusually Dangerous Weapons’
A federal appeals court Thursday refused to block two Connecticut gun control laws despite arguments that they violated the Second Amendment. The laws faced two separate challenges from the National Association for Gun Rights, the Second Amendment Foundation, and others, who asked the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to temporarily block the laws. But on… -
news
DeSantis Urges Congress to Defund Sanctuary States That License Illegal Aliens as Drivers
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling on Congress to defund sanctuary states that provide illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses. DeSantis’ push comes after an illegal alien, Harjinder Singh, was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide after he appears to have tried to make an illegal U-turn while driving a commercial tractor-trailer on Aug. 12… -
news
House Vows to Make Epstein Documents Public After Review
The Justice Department released the first installment of documents on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to House of Representatives investigators on Friday. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee pledged to make the documents public after a review to ensure the identities of victims have been protected. House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., subpoenaed the… -
news
Who Is Trump’s New FBI Deputy Director?
President Donald Trump announced this week that Missouri’s Republican attorney general, Andrew Bailey, will join Dan Bongino as co-deputy director of the FBI. “He has served as a distinguished attorney general for Missouri and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “His leadership and commitment… -
news
Judge Orders Wind Down of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
A federal judge has issued a ruling blocking the Trump administration and Florida state officials from sending additional criminal illegal aliens to “Alligator Alcatraz,” the detention center in the Florida Everglades. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an appointee of President Barack Obama, issued an 82-page ruling Thursday night siding with environmental groups who claim the facility is… -
news
Moreno Returns to Cincinnati for Follow-Up Visit About Crime
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, is not done with Cincinnati after a recent attack there made national headlines. Earlier this month, he met with local leaders and hosted a press conference, appearing alongside one of the attack victims, Holly. Moreno signaled he would return, doing so on Aug. 19. A press release from Moreno’s office highlighted… -
news
State Department Slams Latest Instance of Leftist ‘Judicial Overreach’
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The State Department is condemning a Biden-appointed federal judge’s ruling barring the Trump administration from using the president’s latest travel ban to deny visas to foreigners from certain countries. U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, a 2024 appointee of then-President Joe Biden, ruled Thursday that the State Department cannot rely on the… -
news
Federal Judge Stops Texas From Requiring Ten Commandments in School Classrooms
A federal judge Wednesday temporarily blocked a Texas law that would require public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery, a Clinton appointee, put the law—originally set to take effect Sep. 1—on hold, ruling it likely violated the First Amendment by crossing “the line from exposure to coercion.” Texas’… -
news
‘IDENTICAL FACTS’: Loudoun County Punishes Christian Boys While Exonerating Muslim, Lawyer Says
ASHBURN, Va.—The father of a high school boy punished by the school district for expressing shock at seeing a girl in the boys’ locker room says he would take his son’s case to the Supreme Court, if necessary, as his lawyer says the case illustrates “blatant religious discrimination.” “Are you in this for the long… -
news
BREAKING: Court Throws Out Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Penalty Against Trump
An appeals court threw out the $355 million fraud penalty against President Donald Trump on Thursday. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York found the penalty excessive in violation of the Constitution. However, the court upheld last year’s ruling finding Trump, his two oldest sons, and his business liable… -
news
Federal Court Declares College Drag Show ‘Protected Expression’
A federal appeals court this week allowed a Texas A&M LGBTQ+ student group to host a drag show on campus, ruling that the event was an expression of free speech. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to the district court with instructions to issue a preliminary… -
opinion
Why NYC Tragedy Means We Need Gun Rights, Not Gun Control
At the end of July, tragedy struck New York City when a deeply troubled Nevada man drove across the country to a Park Avenue office building and opened fire, killing four people before taking his own life. Police believe the gunman intended to target the National Football League, which is headquartered in the building and… -
opinion
It’s Not a Movie: Courts’ Dramatic Smackdown of Judge Boasberg
It’s a tale fit for a thriller novel or action movie: planes on the tarmac waiting to take members of a violent gang to a foreign prison, lawyers rushing to the courthouse to stop them, presidential proclamations, and a judge on a mission to impose his own brand of justice. But this drama isn’t made up—it’s… -
news
3 Blue States Could Be at Fault in Fatal Florida Car Crash, Transportation Secretary Says
The U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating three blue states’ possible involvement in an Aug. 12 fatal car crash in Florida that killed three. Illegal immigrant truck driver Harjinder Singh stands accused of causing the crash by making an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike 19 miles north of Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County. He… -
news
Missouri Attorney General Takes Senior FBI Post
Missouri state Attorney General Andrew Bailey has announced he will be joining the Trump administration as co-deputy director of the FBI. “I am proud to announce I have accepted the role of co-deputy director of the FBI. I extend my thanks to @POTUS and @AGPamBondi for the opportunity to serve in the mission to Make… -
opinion
Why Virginia Officials Warn Against Relying on Mail-In Voting
President Donald Trump on Monday pledged to “get rid” of mail-in ballots for elections. While whatever he ultimately does shouldn’t affect mail-in voting for Virginia’s upcoming elections this November, there are some voting warnings Virginians need to be aware of. Trump posted to his account on Truth Social: “I am going to lead a movement… -
news
Transgender Lawsuit Could Be Revived Over Change in the Law
Prisha Mosley, a detransitioner who now advocates against transgender procedures, is seeking to have her lawsuit on medical malpractice, fraud, and negligence charges reinstated in a case that could have wide-ranging ramifications. Mosley, who was put on testosterone when she was 17, sued several health care providers on medical malpractice and negligence claims in 2023….