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
SCOTUS Order on California Law to ‘Keep Secrets From Parents’ a Positive Sign for Parental Rights, Heritage Scholar Says
Is a recent ruling from the Supreme Court “a sign of good things to come” for parents? Corey DeAngelis, The Heritage Foundation’s new research fellow at the Center for Education Policy, believes so. On Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily prevented the state of California from blocking school policies that would require telling parents if their… -
opinion
Supreme Court Ruling Is Welcome News for Immigration Judges
Imagine that you’re one of the 520 or so immigration judges trying to slog through the estimated 3.3 million pending immigration cases, many of which are asylum cases. Unlike other judges, you don’t have contempt authority to hold attorneys accountable. And most denial of asylum decisions you make get appealed to the Board of Immigration… -
news
After Supreme Court Ruling, Tariff Refund Battle Just Beginning
The Trump administration will pay interest on refunds for global tariffs if ordered to do so, according to a court filing on Wednesday. U.S. officials have not committed to full refunds on the money collected from tariffs, as President Donald Trump has said he would find other laws to continue his tariffs. However, litigation and negotiations… -
news
EXCLUSIVE: Congress Eyes New ‘Dalilah’s Law’ Proposal to Ban Illegal Immigrants From Trucking
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Two Indiana Republicans introduced an effort to force states to reform the commercial driving licensing process and bar commercial driver’s licenses, or CDLs for short, from falling into the hands of illegal immigrants. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., introduced her version of “Dalilah’s Law” in the House on Wednesday. The legislation is… -
news
Ohio’s Abortion Amendment Used to Block Fetal Remains Law
Ohio’s pro-abortion Reproductive Freedom Amendment, passed in 2023, has now been used to block a state law requiring the humane burial or cremation of aborted children. Last week, Ohio’s 1st District Court of Appeals upheld a ruling against Ohio’s SB 27, which mandated fetal remains be buried or cremated. The appeals court concluded “that the… -
news
‘WATERSHED MOMENT’: Supreme Court Rules on Gender Secrecy Policies
The Supreme Court Monday vindicated parental rights, upholding an injunction against California’s gender secrecy policy, which mandated that school staff hide a student’s claimed transgender identity from parents unless the student expressly consented to reveal it. “This is a watershed moment for parental rights in America,” Paul Jonna, special counsel at the Thomas More Society,… -
opinion
Supreme Court Explains Contours of Sixth Amendment’s Right to Counsel in Villarreal v. Texas
The Sixth Amendment has long guaranteed a criminal defendant the right “to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.” But what does that right entail in practice—particularly when a defendant takes the witness stand in his own defense? And by taking the witness stand, what limitations, if any, exist with respect to his right… -
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… -
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.”… -
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,… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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. … -
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… -
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…