STORY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Supreme Court rules 6–3 to restrict universal injunctions by lower courts

• Ruling does not decide on the constitutionality of Trump’s birthright citizenship order

• Justice Barrett writes majority opinion, emphasizing limited equitable authority

• Justices Sotomayor, Jackson, and Kagan dissent, warning of constitutional risks

• Trump and DOJ officials celebrate the decision as a win for executive power

• Over 300 lawsuits potentially impacted by ruling across various federal policy areas

In a ruling that is expected to reshape how courts across the country interact with presidential powers, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday took a decisive step by limiting the authority of lower federal courts to issue sweeping nationwide injunctions. The 6–3 decision marks a significant win for the Trump administration and could reverberate across hundreds of legal battles connected to executive actions.

The case originated from a series of district court rulings in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington state, where judges had blocked a controversial executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. The order aimed to ban birthright citizenship — a move that triggered strong reactions across the legal and political spectrum. However, Friday’s decision from the high court did not pass judgment on the constitutionality of the executive order itself. Instead, the justices tackled the broader question: do federal courts have the authority to issue universal injunctions that apply to individuals and entities not directly involved in a lawsuit?

A Limited Scope, A Broad Impact

Rather than delving into the specifics of Trump’s policy, the court’s majority chose to address the issue through the lens of judicial remedy. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, emphasized that the question before the court was narrow yet deeply consequential.

“The issue before us is one of remedy,” Barrett wrote. “Whether, under the Judiciary Act of 1789, federal courts have equitable authority to issue universal injunctions.”

She added:

“A universal injunction can be justified only as an exercise of equitable authority, yet Congress has granted federal courts no such power.”

As a result, the court ordered the lower courts to revise their previous rulings to ensure that the injunctions they had issued apply only to the plaintiffs directly involved in the respective cases. Furthermore, the court placed a 30-day stay on the enforcement of Trump’s birthright citizenship order, giving time for compliance with the new standard.

A Divided Bench, Strong Dissents

While the conservative majority closed ranks around a shared legal interpretation of equity and judicial authority, the court’s liberal justices presented sharply worded dissents, voicing concern over what this could mean for those most vulnerable to government overreach.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a particularly forceful dissent, warned that the ruling could strip the courts of their ability to provide meaningful relief when constitutional rights are at stake.

“This decision is nothing less than an open invitation for the Government to bypass the Constitution,” Sotomayor wrote.

She went on to explain:

“The Executive Branch can now enforce policies that flout settled law and violate countless individuals’ constitutional rights, and the federal courts will be hamstrung to stop its actions fully. Until the day that every affected person manages to become party to a lawsuit and secures for himself injunctive relief, the Government may act lawlessly indefinitely.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson also raised concerns about the disproportionate burden the ruling places on those lacking resources or legal access.

“This decision will disproportionately impact the poor, the uneducated, and the unpopular — those who may not have the wherewithal to lawyer up,” she wrote. “They will all too often find themselves beholden to the Executive’s whims.”

Backdrop of Broader Legal Battles

The Supreme Court’s review of this issue came as part of a consolidated appeal involving three district court judges who had previously blocked Trump’s executive order from taking effect on a nationwide basis. However, the justices’ deliberations, particularly during the May oral arguments, were focused less on the policy at hand and more on the broader use — or misuse — of universal injunctions by the judiciary.

Over recent years, such injunctions have become a common tool for lower courts to stop federal policies from taking effect across the country. Critics say they have been used to obstruct the legal operation of the executive branch, especially in cases involving politically contentious decisions. Supporters argue they are a necessary check on sweeping government actions that may cause widespread harm.

Solicitor General John Sauer, representing the Trump administration, argued that the use of universal injunctions effectively forced the government to win every legal challenge nationwide or risk being blocked everywhere.

“They operate asymmetrically,” Sauer told the justices. “They force the government to win everywhere and invert the ordinary hierarchy of appellate review.”

On the other side, New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum acknowledged the complications of universal injunctions but cautioned against banning them entirely. He pointed out that in some cases, alternatives like class action suits may not move swiftly enough to provide timely relief.

“We are sympathetic to some of the concerns the United States has about percolation and procedural efficiency,” Feigenbaum said. “But we don’t think that supports a bright-line rule that says they’re never available.”

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sotomayor both pressed Feigenbaum on how courts could determine when universal injunctions are or are not appropriate — a central question that remains largely unresolved by Friday’s ruling.

Political Reaction and Legal Implications

Unsurprisingly, the decision was met with strong reactions in political circles. Former President Trump hailed the court’s ruling as a monumental success, celebrating it on Truth Social.

“GIANT WIN in the Supreme Court,” Trump wrote. “Even the Birthright Citizenship Hoax has been, indirectly, hit hard.”

He added:

“It had to do with the babies of slaves (same year!), not the SCAMMING of our Immigration process. Congratulations to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Solicitor General John Sauer, and the entire DOJ.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed the sentiment, calling the ruling a “huge moment” for the Department of Justice.

“Today, the Supreme Court instructed district courts to STOP the endless barrage of nationwide injunctions against President Trump,” Bondi posted. “This would not have been possible without tireless work from our excellent lawyers.”

She further added:

“This Department of Justice will continue to zealously defend @POTUS’s policies and his authority to implement them.”

Wider Legal Ramifications

The ruling is likely to impact more than 300 active federal lawsuits filed since Trump’s second presidency began in January 2025. These cases span a range of issues, including immigration, military policies, and government oversight measures, many of which had been halted by nationwide injunctions.

During oral arguments, even some conservative justices acknowledged the complexities of universal injunctions and the legal vacuum that might emerge from their absence. Yet the court remained divided over whether these injunctions represent judicial overreach or an essential remedy.

With the court now narrowing their availability, the burden of legal challenges may shift, requiring more individuals to file separate lawsuits in order to seek relief — a shift that could fundamentally alter the landscape of constitutional litigation in America.

For now, the courts have been instructed to proceed with caution, apply the ruling to current cases, and ensure that remedies are aligned strictly with traditional equitable principles. But as with many Supreme Court rulings, the broader consequences are just beginning to unfold.

The Supreme Court’s ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing tug-of-war between the executive branch and the federal judiciary. By curbing the use of universal injunctions, the justices have narrowed the path through which sweeping executive policies can be halted nationwide, handing a procedural win to the Trump administration while sidestepping the deeper constitutional debate over birthright citizenship. As the legal landscape shifts, the decision leaves behind a trail of uncertainty—raising critical questions about access to justice, judicial checks on power, and the future of nationwide legal protections in an increasingly divided America.

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