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
Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings Showcase the Paranoia of the Resistance
When cameras at Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearing caught sight of a woman named Zina Bash, a Republican lawyer, with her arm resting in a position that allowed her index finger and thumb to almost touch—a purportedly racist gesture—a conspiracy theory broke out on social media, accusing Bash of signaling her support of white nationalism…. -
opinion
3 Takeaways From Day 3 of Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings
After a marathon 13 hours of questioning on Wednesday, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings continued Thursday with more questions from the senators. Protesters continued to punctuate the senators’ questions throughout the day, and a dozen or so of the girls Kavanaugh has coached on basketball teams showed up in the afternoon to support… -
opinion
On the Court, Kavanaugh Will Be an Umpire, Not a Player
I’ve served on the Senate Judiciary Committee for more than 40 years, and this week marks my 15th and final hearing on a Supreme Court nominee. It also marks what I hope will be the end of partisan high jinks designed to delay the confirmation of an all-star nominee. After all these years, I’m good at judging judges. But you… -
opinion
Senate Democrats’ Disingenuous Double Standard for Supremely Qualified Kavanaugh
The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding hearings this week to review the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, an eminently qualified jurist to serve on the Supreme Court. When Kavanaugh, a long-serving federal appeals court judge, was first nominated, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, committed to every member that we would have the most open,… -
news
On the Street: Kavanaugh Protesters Refuse to Talk
On Day Two of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, we went “On the Street” outside the Hart Senate Office Building to talk with those standing in line for seats inside the hearing room. But when we asked them why they were there, most seemed more interested in signing each other up for various petitions than sharing… -
opinion
5 Takeaways From Day 2 of Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearing
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing continued Wednesday, with senators posing questions to the nominee. Obstruction and absurdity were hallmarks of the first day—with Democrats demanding a delay, more than 60 protesters being arrested, conspiracy theories that a White House staffer and former law clerk sitting behind Kavanaugh was flashing a “white power” sign,… -
opinion
Here’s How Kavanaugh Has Applied the Constitution in Our High-Tech Era
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court opened with fireworks Tuesday, as Democratic senators schemed to halt the hearing and liberal activists heckled lawmakers from the audience. What did Kavanaugh do to deserve such antics? He is, after all, supremely qualified—even the American Bar Association, long recognized as… -
opinion
3 Takeaways From Day 1 of Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Fight
>> Check out 5 Takeaways From Day 2 of Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearing >> Check out 3 Takeaways From Day 3 of Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearing The Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off its hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh today, and it was no peaceful outing. The first day of a confirmation hearing is usually placid,… -
news
Women’s March Leader Linda Sarsour Arrested at Kavanaugh Hearing
Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour was among the left-wing activists arrested Tuesday for interrupting the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Sarsour entered the hearing room in the Hart Senate Office Building just before 9:30 a.m. EDT. She sat quietly with other anti-Kavanaugh activists until the hearing opened, at which point she loudly rebuked… -
news
Protesters Disrupt Kavanaugh Hearing, Democrats Try to Delay
Chaos gripped the opening moments of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing Tuesday, as Democratic senators attempted to delay proceedings while protesters heckled Republican lawmakers. As Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, gave his opening statement, Democrats urged the panel to adjourn and delay the hearing, in view of the… -
opinion
Fact-Checking 4 of Critics’ Claims About Brett Kavanaugh
Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to serve on the Supreme Court is the most contentious issue in the Senate, prompting intense partisan debate and numerous claims about his views. President Donald Trump nominated the federal appeals court judge July 8 to fill the seat of retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. Here are the facts on four of Democrats’… -
opinion
What to Expect in Kavanaugh’s Senate Hearings
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh begins at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Here’s what you can expect. The committee has 21 members—11 Republicans and 10 Democrats. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is the chairman and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is the ranking member, or lead member of the minority… -
news
What 2 Women Who Actually Clerked for Kavanaugh Really Think of Him
When Sarah Pitlyk went to clerk for Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit Court, she found herself in a unique situation: Between the time she interviewed for the job, and went to begin the clerkship, Pitlyk had given birth. “At the time,” Pitlyk told The Daily Signal, “it was unprecedented.” “I was the first… -
news
Senate Ramping Up Trump Judicial Confirmations This Week
Since March, Senate Democrats have forced 30 hours of debate on each of five of President Donald Trump’s federal district court judge nominees subsequently approved with at least 95 votes. District court judges—the first jurists to rule on often contentious cases—have been stalled, but Senate Republicans plan this week to keep the Senate in session… -
opinion
Kavanaugh Follows the Law, Even Under the Most Difficult Circumstances
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., served on the Judiciary Committee in 2009. During the confirmation for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, Schumer said that even in “hot-button cases,” judges should follow the law even if it results in rulings against so-called sympathetic litigants.” That’s an important principle to follow as the Senate considers Judge… -
opinion
Kavanaugh Rules by the Law, Even in Tough Cases
Article 30 of the Massachusetts Constitution, authored by John Adams and adopted in 1780, calls for a “government of laws and not of men.” The principle referred to as “the rule of law” sounds nice in the abstract and fits comfortably in easy situations, but is truly tested in the tough cases. In the tough… -
opinion
The Latest Ploy Liberals Are Using to Try to Block Kavanaugh
Perhaps one day a court will find that Donald Trump conspired with his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to pay nondisclosure agreements meant to silence his mistresses. Perhaps one day the House will impeach Trump for breaking those campaign finance laws, and then maybe the Senate will also remove him from office. Those are the mechanisms… -
news
His Dad Immigrated From Cuba. He Clerked for Kavanaugh. They Both Love the Constitution.
Roman Martinez’s father immigrated from Cuba to the United States after communist dictator Fidel Castro took power. Because of that, Martinez says he has a unique appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. That appreciation led him to pursue a career in law, which in 2008 led him to a clerkship with Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit Court… -
news
On the Street: Activists Protesting Kavanaugh Refuse to Talk About Why
Almost 20 special-interest groups organized a “Working Women Will #StopKavanaugh” demonstration on Wednesday, hoping to encourage senators to oppose Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and delay his confirmation hearings scheduled to begin after Labor Day. But when we took our cameras to the event, none of the “working women” or other activists would talk… -
opinion
#TimesUp Gets Hijacked to Push Anti-Kavanaugh Political Agenda
When the issue of workplace sexual harassment and assault becomes political, something has gone terribly wrong. Something has gone terribly wrong with the individuals leading that fight, and something has gone terribly wrong with the organizations backing it. So is the case for the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, established to advance the #MeToo movement….