Trump Intensifies Appeals to Supreme Court to Overturn Judge Rulings on Key Agenda Items

As losses stack up in lower federal courts, President Trump is turning to a familiar strategy: relying on the Supreme Court. In recent weeks, the Justice Department has filed emergency appeals, known as the "shadow docket," pushing the conservative-majority court to intervene sooner than usual. This surge of legal activity comes as the administration faces over 130 lawsuits linked to Trump’s executive orders.

These lawsuits, often filed in more liberal jurisdictions, challenge a range of issues—from altering birthright citizenship to deportations and changes in federal spending. With more than 40 rulings against him already, Trump is looking to the Supreme Court for relief. His Justice Department sees the court as a way to neutralize what they believe is judicial overreach by lower courts.

Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris emphasized the urgency, arguing that only the Supreme Court can restore balance in the government. Experts like Georgetown University law professor Stephen Vladeck note this trend reflects a critical moment: “How far will the Supreme Court support Trump?” In his research, he found that during Trump’s first term, the Justice Department frequently turned to the Supreme Court for emergency rulings, with a success rate of about 68%.

The current situation is unprecedented. In the Bush and Obama administrations, emergency appeals were rare, with only eight cases over 16 years. Now, they seem to be a norm. This quickened pace of legal proceedings allows the Supreme Court to make decisions within days rather than the months usually required.

This brings us to key cases on the emergency docket:

Deportation Orders: Trump’s campaign promised mass deportations, and he’s now invoking an 18th-century law to speed up deportations of Venezuelan migrants linked to gangs. However, federal courts are stepping in to halt these actions, with a judge recently blocking deportation flights, prompting a legal tussle over whether the administration violated court orders.

Federal Worker Layoffs: Thousands of federal employees have been laid off as part of efforts to downsize the government. Legal challenges have emerged, with judges ruling that the administration broke federal laws in their execution of these layoffs. One judge ordered the reinstatement of over 16,000 workers, while the administration pushed back, stating that the ruling overstepped judicial authority.

Cuts to Teacher Training Programs: Trump’s initiatives to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have faced pushback as several states sued to prevent cuts to teacher training funding. A federal judge temporarily blocked these cuts, stressing the impact on programs designed to address existing teacher shortages.

Birthright Citizenship: On his first day in office, Trump sought to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. His executive order was quickly halted by courts, with appeals failing to gain traction as judges maintain a stance against these changes.

These ongoing legal battles highlight a significant clash between the executive branch and the judiciary. As courts continue to rule against the administration, the pressure will grow on the Supreme Court to clarify its stance. The outcome of these cases could reshape various aspects of governance and set long-lasting precedents.

For further details on the role of the Supreme Court in shaping U.S. policies, you can explore resources like The American Bar Association.

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Donald Trump, Courts, John Roberts, Legal proceedings, District of Columbia, Lawsuits, U.S. Department of Justice, Texas, General news, AP Top News, James E. Boasberg, California state government, Sarah Harris, George W. Bush, Texas state government, Government and politics, Immigration, Barack Obama, Stephen Vladeck, Washington news, Politics