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
Leftist Group Dodges Accountability for ‘Hate Group’ Accusation After Judge Blocks Discovery
A federal judge dismissed a conservative nonprofit’s defamation lawsuit against the Southern Poverty Law Center Wednesday, reversing a previous judge’s theory of the case. Critics say the SPLC routinely smears mainstream conservative and Christian groups by placing them on a “hate map” with chapters of the Ku Klux Klan. D.A. King, founder of the Dustin…Tyler O’Neil -
- Opinion
Federal Law Enforcement Presence Limits Minneapolis Unrest
It took less than 48 hours for protesters to begin burning the city of Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd in May 2020. Law enforcement struggled to control protests as demonstrators set a local police station on fire, looted businesses, and left parts of the city covered in graffiti. Five-and-a-half years later, Americans wonder…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Was Trump’s Maduro Operation Illegal? Here’s What International Law Says
The abduction of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela’s capital has set off extensive debates about its legality. International law scholars overwhelmingly assume that, regardless of its constitutionality, the action violated Venezuela’s sovereignty. In fact, there are strong international legal justifications for the operation. Indeed, at first glance, the invasion and abduction of Maduro would seem to be a “use of force… against the… political…Eugene Kontorovich -
- News
130 Dems Side With Trans-Identifying Athlete Accused of Sexual Harassment in SCOTUS Case
More than 130 Democratic members of Congress have filed an amicus brief supporting a transgender-identifying athlete—a biological male—at the heart of a major U.S. Supreme Court case on school sports participation. The athlete is not only at the center of a Supreme Court case but has also been accused of sexual harassment and engaging in intimidation tactics…Sarah Holliday -
- News
‘IRREPARABLE HARM’: California Teachers Ask Supreme Court to Block Gender Secrecy Policy
California teachers have filed an emergency appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court after an appeals court panel reinstated policies requiring teachers to hide students’ gender identities from their parents. “Right now, California’s parental deception scheme is keeping families in the dark and causing irreparable harm. That’s why we’re asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene immediately,” Paul Jonna, a partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP and special counsel for…Tyler O’Neil -
- News
Vance Warns Democrats Will Seek to Arrest Law Enforcement
Vice President JD Vance said Democrats want to jail law-abiding law enforcement officers, after many Democrats expressed outrage over an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shooting and killing a protester in her vehicle on Wednesday. “Every congressional democrat and every democrat who’s running for president should be asked a simple question: Do you think this officer was…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- News
Maduro Arrives in Court and Enters Plea
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro pleaded “not guilty” to federal narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges on Monday, two days after the U.S. captured him from his residence in Caracas. Appearing in a federal court in New York City, Maduro told the judge in Spanish through an interpreter, “I am not guilty,” adding, “I am a decent…Virginia Allen -
- News
5 Far-Reaching Supreme Court Decisions to Watch for in 2026
The Supreme Court will decide on several cases in 2026 that revolve around President Donald Trump in the near term but will have far-reaching consequences for future presidents. Here are the biggest high court decisions to watch for in 2026. First out of the gate, a case that will affect state laws across the country…Fred Lucas -
Census Battle: How This Lawsuit Could Change Political Power in Congress
A federal lawsuit could be decided in early 2026 to require the Census Bureau to only count people rather than use statistical sampling—a move that could determine who controls Congress. The 2020 Census overcounted the population of several Democrat-leaning states and undercounted the population of several Republican-leaning states. While the agency admitted this was an error, plaintiffs in the…Fred Lucas -
- Analysis
7 Significant Legal Matters From 2025 That’ll Have Impacts Far Beyond the New Year
The year has been jam-packed with consequential legal rulings likely to have long-lasting impact on matters such as parental rights and religious liberty. The Supreme Court—often known for ideological divisions—reached unanimous rulings on two contentious issues. On other fronts, personal legal cases against President Donald Trump have fallen away, even amid skyrocketing litigation challenging his…Fred Lucas -
- News
Judge Hands Media Major Win in Charlie Kirk Murder Trial
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Utah Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf ordered on Monday that audio and transcripts of a closed hearing surrounding Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, can be released with redactions. In a virtual hearing, Graf ruled that the transcript of a hearing that took place in October can be issued with some…Nicole Silverio -
- News
Supreme Court Won’t Let Trump Deploy National Guard in Illinois
THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to allow President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard in Illinois. The government has not shown it is permitted under the law “to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois,” the Supreme Court majority held. “At this preliminary…Katelynn Richardson -
- News
EXCLUSIVE: Christmas Ad Draws Inspiration From ‘Home Alone’ to Unwrap Dangers of Illegal Vapes
A new Christmas ad aims to expose the “greedy criminals targeting vulnerable kids” with illegal vapes. Illegal vapes, largely from China, have flooded the U.S. market in recent years with flavors and advertising specifically aimed at enticing children. “This Christmas, it’s time to get those who profit from illegal vapes a supersized dose of Kevin,” the ad tells viewers, referring to Kevin…Virginia Allen -
- News
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Released Following Judge’s Order
A federal judge is blocking U.S. immigration officials from re-detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia after the illegal alien was ordered released. Abrego Garcia appeared for a scheduled Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday morning, but immigration officials were blocked from re-detaining him due to a judge’s order. The order comes after U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in Maryland granted Abrego Garcia’s petition for release from immigration…Virginia Allen -
- News
IQ on Death Row: Supreme Court Weighs Relevance of Convicted Killer’s Test Scores
The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether the death sentence applied to a convicted murderer represents cruel and unusual punishment based on his debatable intellectual disability. The state of Alabama argues that five IQ test scores for Joseph Clifton Smith, convicted of capital murder for the 1997 killing of Durk Van Dam, demonstrate that…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
DOJ Drops ‘Disparate Impact’ Standard in Civil Rights Law. It’s a Huge Win for Equality Under the Law.
The Trump administration is conducting a profound revolution in civil rights law. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division announced that it is ending the use of disparate impact in enforcement of Title VI under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is a huge deal. “The prior ‘disparate impact’ regulations encouraged people…Jarrett Stepman -
SLAPP DOWN: Court Defends Trans Activists Who Allegedly Lied to Get Real Estate Agent Fired
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Transgender activists are “weaponizing” a law meant to protect participation in public debate, flipping it “on its head” to further a “personal vendetta” against a Georgia mom and real estate agent whom the activists previously tried to get fired, the mom’s lawyer says. Julie Mauck, the Georgia mom, publicly addressed a…Tyler O’Neil -
- News
Sonia Sotomayor Says Trump Will Have ‘Absolute Power’ If the Court Overturns Humphrey’s Executor
The Supreme Court’s conservative-leaning majority seems poised to scrap a 90-year precedent that has insulated the deep state for decades. Justices are weighing whether an elected president can remove executive branch officials serving on supposedly “independent” commissions or boards, and whether blocking the president from doing so violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers….Fred Lucas -
- News
How Liberal Lawfare Actors Spearheaded Case That Got Trump-Appointed Prosecutor Disqualified
A three-judge panel disqualified President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer as the acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey, in a case pushed by the head of a liberal lawfare group, and by Hunter Biden’s former lawyer. The panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit determined Monday that Alina Habba’s appointment violated…Fred Lucas -
- News
Teachers Union Anti-Trump Lawfare Cases Have Little Connection to K-12 Public School Education
After President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term in January, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten asserted she was “really sad” about the inaugural speech. “Rather than unifying people and building on America’s best qualities, Trump delivered a speech that was laden with divisiveness, showing that he is the president of…Fred Lucas