Show-Me State Times

In a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri addressed concerns about the use of nationwide injunctions by district court judges. These injunctions, according to Hawley, have been used to halt policies during President Trump's administration unlawfully. The issue has gained attention following the introduction of legislation by Senator Hawley to ban nationwide injunctions at the district court level.

Senator Hawley emphasized that the judiciary has misused nationwide injunctions in a partisan manner, highlighting that there was a significant increase in such injunctions during Trump’s first administration. He noted that former President Obama faced 12 nationwide injunctions, President Biden 14, while Trump encountered 64 during his first term and at least 15 more during his current term.

“It shouldn’t be one rule for Democrats, one rule for Republicans – let’s make it one rule across the board that no matter who appoints you, a judge can only bind parties that are before her or him, that there are no nationwide injunctions,” said Senator Hawley. “Let’s make that the standard and return these courts to the proper function of our constitutional system.”

Hawley also brought attention to how partisan judges have used temporary restraining orders (TROs). These orders are challenging to appeal immediately due to their temporary nature.

A full video of Senator Hawley’s remarks is available for viewing.

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