In three separate 6-3 decisions on June 27, the Supreme Court delivered rulings that advanced key conservative priorities by reining in judicial overreach, strengthening parental rights in public education, and upholding state authority to protect minors online.
1. Court reins in nationwide injunctions
The justices sharply curtailed the power of lower federal judges to block presidential policies nationwide, siding with President Donald Trump in a case tied to his executive order on birthright citizenship. The landmark ruling delivers a blow to what critics have called “activist” judges.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, said such “[u]niversal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts.” The ruling effectively reins in universal injunctions issued by federal judges to restrict executive action.
The underlying case involved Trump’s January order stating that children born in the US to illegal immigrants or temporary visa holders are not automatically granted citizenship. While the Court did not weigh the policy’s constitutionality, it lifted three nationwide injunctions that had blocked its enforcement.
The order is now set to take effect in 30 days, and further legal challenges are expected in the meantime.
2. Parents can opt out of LGBTQ book lessons
The court also sided with Maryland parents seeking to exempt their children from mandatory LGBTQ-themed book lessons in public schools, citing their deeply held religious beliefs.
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The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, arose in Montgomery County, where parents objected to materials promoting same-sex relationships and a “Pride” parade. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, said the school district’s refusal to allow opt-outs “places an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.”
3. States can enforce age verification on pornographic sites
In a third win for conservatives, the justices allowed Texas to enforce a new law requiring explicit websites to implement age-verification systems to block minors from accessing explicit content.
The Court declined to block the law, rejecting free speech objections from the porn industry.
“The power to require age verification is within a State’s authority to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit content,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the majority opinion.
The decision is expected to spur similar legislation in other states.