Supreme Court Limits Lower Courts’ Ability to Block Executive Orders

The Supreme Court has issued a ruling that restricts the ability of lower court judges to block presidential executive orders. 

The Details: The decision, which President Donald Trump hailed as a “giant win,” resulted from a case involving his attempt to end birthright citizenship for non-citizens and undocumented immigrants via executive order. The court voted along ideological lines in a 6-3 decision, with the conservative judges siding with Trump. 

For Context: The ruling did not directly address the constitutionality of Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. Instead, the Supreme Court's decision focused more broadly on the limitations of judicial power in relation to presidential actions. Previously, Trump has criticized “activist judges” who have halted some of his orders.

The Quotes: Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett said federal courts do not “exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch” and instead “resolve cases and controversies consistent with the authority Congress has given them.” Liberal Justice Sonya Sotomayor called the Trump administration's request “gamesmanship” and said the court “plays along.”

How The Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) highlighted Trump’s delight with the ruling, which he said puts an end to a “colossal abuse of power.” The New York Times (Lean Left) published an analysis that said lower courts will have to “grapple with new limits on their power.”

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