- United States
- Wash.
- Letter
This legislation severely undermines the system of checks and balances by stripping federal district courts of their ability to issue injunctive relief against unconstitutional or illegal executive branch actions, except in extremely limited circumstances. Preserving the courts' power to halt potentially irreparable harm caused by overreach from the other branches is crucial to upholding the Constitution and protecting individual rights. Allowing nationwide injunctions when clearly warranted serves an important role in swiftly addressing violations that could impact many beyond just the parties to a particular case. This bill's restriction on that authority disregards the judiciary's responsibility to provide timely remedies, instead needlessly prioritizing executive authority over longstanding judicial powers. The proposed three-judge panel procedure is an inadequate safeguard, as it still obstructs the courts' traditional equitable powers and interjects unnecessary bureaucracy into time-sensitive matters. Upholding democratic principles requires a robust judicial branch empowered to serve as a check on overreach, not further consolidation of unchecked executive power. I urge you to reject this unwise constraint on a core function of the federal courts.