Since President Trump assumed office on January 20, 2025, Republicans intentionally and willfully went out of their way to weaken the judicial branch and its ability to ensure the executive branch obeys the law. From judicial impeachment resolutions meant to intimidate sitting federal judges to legislation severely limiting the injunction process, numerous Republicans in the House and Senate are attempting to use their legislative power to give President Trump more power to do whatever he wants regardless of our Constitution and established law.
Judicial Impeachment Resolutions
- Currently, seven impeachment resolutions have been introduced by five different House Republicans (Reps. Gill, Crane, Ogles, Van Orden, Clyde) targeting six different district court judges who have issued TRO’s or injunctions on Trump’s Executive Orders (Rep. Ogles has two more resolutions here and here).
- Since the creation of our nation, only 15 federal judges have been impeached.
- All have been for personal reasons, such as bribery, intoxication, tax evasion, perjury and more.
Nationwide Injunction Legislation
- Multiple proposals have been offered by House and Senate Republicans to kneecap the ability of federal judges to issue temporary restraining orders or injunctions while they consider valid legal challenges
- In the House, Rep. Darrell Issa introduced H.R. 1526 No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA) which passed in the House on April 9th with the support of all but one Republican member and is awaiting action in the Senate
- In the Senate, three major proposals have been introduced by Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee including its chair Sen. Chuck Grassley along with Senators Josh Hawley and Mike Lee.
Limiting enforcement of contempt
- Within the 1000+ page House reconciliation bill, a small paragraph was included intended to limit the ability for federal courts to enforce contempt citations (Section 70302).
- This comes on the heels of Chief Judge Boasberg’s announcement that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt
- Passing this provision could make it difficult for all sitting judges to ensure litigants, including government attorneys, are being honest in court and that all parties are complying with orders from the court
Extending Immunity
- Expanding on Chief Justice Roberts and other Supreme Court MAGA Justices’ decision in Trump v. US, which laid out expansive immunity for presidents in federal cases, Republicans are advancing H.R.1789, the Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation (PEPPER) Act of 2025
- This bill seeks to extend this new immunity to senior administration officials, Vice Presidents and former Presidents and Vice Presidents.
Taken as a whole, it becomes evident that rhetorical attacks are not the only method Republicans are using to bend the courts and judges to their will. They are also trying to use their legislative power to intimidate and, if successful, weaken the courts, undermining the courts’ ability to ensure executive actions follow the Constitution and established law.