Supreme Court Limits Nationwide Injunctions; Trump Scores Major Win
Supreme Court Ends Term with Major Wins for Trump and Conservatives (June 27, 2025)
On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded its term with a series of landmark rulings that favored conservative legal philosophy and delivered significant wins for former President Donald Trump. Chief among them was a decision limiting the power of lower federal courts to issue nationwide injunctions, a mechanism often used to block Trump’s policies. Other major rulings touched on birthright citizenship, LGBTQ+ content in schools, online pornography restrictions, Obamacare’s preventive care mandate, internet subsidies, and a delayed decision on Louisiana’s redistricting case.
Detailed Breakdown of Key Rulings
Nationwide Injunctions Curtailed (Trump v. CASA Inc.)
- Ruling: 6-3
- Majority Opinion: Justice Amy Coney Barrett
- Key Issue: Can lower courts block federal policies nationwide before final judgment?
- Decision: Lower courts can no longer issue nationwide injunctions unless part of class-action relief.
- Impact: Strengthens presidential authority, weakens judicial checks.
- Dissent: Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned the ruling “gives way” to executive overreach.
LGBTQ+ School Curriculum – Parental Opt-Out Rights (Mahmoud v. Taylor)
- Ruling: 6-3
- Majority: Justice Samuel Alito
- Issue: Can parents opt their children out of LGBTQ+-inclusive lessons?
- Decision: Yes—based on First Amendment religious rights.
- Impact: Schools nationwide must allow religious-based curriculum exemptions.
- Dissent: Justice Sotomayor warned this risks “fracturing public education.”
Texas Porn Age Verification Law Upheld
- Ruling: 6-3
- Majority: Justice Clarence Thomas
- Issue: Do adult content restrictions violate free speech?
- Decision: States can require age verification to protect minors.
- Dissent: Justice Elena Kagan criticized burdens on adult privacy and access.
Obamacare Preventive Care Survives (Kennedy v. Braidwood)
- Ruling: 6-3
- Majority: Justices Roberts and Kavanaugh joined liberal bloc.
- Decision: ACA mandate for free preventive care (e.g., PrEP, screenings) remains intact.
- Impact: Preserves no-cost services for over 150 million Americans.
FCC Internet Subsidy Program Upheld (FCC v. Consumers Research)
- Ruling: 6-3
- Majority: Justice Elena Kagan
- Decision: FCC’s $8B Universal Service Fund is constitutional.
- Impact: Keeps broadband and phone subsidies flowing to rural and underserved communities.
Louisiana Racial Gerrymandering Case Deferred
- Ruling: No final decision
- Issue: Legality of second majority-Black district in LA’s map.
- Outcome: Court ordered re-argument in next term (Oct 2025).
- Impact: Affects 2026 midterms, future VRA-based redistricting.
Comparison Table of Rulings
| Case/Issue | Vote | Majority Author | Conservative/Liberal Win | Key Impact |
| Nationwide Injunctions | 6-3 | Amy Coney Barrett | ✅ Conservative | Weakens judicial blocks, boosts presidential policy enforcement |
| LGBTQ+ School Opt-Outs | 6-3 | Samuel Alito | ✅ Conservative | Allows religious objections to curriculum |
| Texas Porn Age Verification | 6-3 | Clarence Thomas | ✅ Conservative | Upholds online age-check laws |
| Obamacare Preventive Care | 6-3 | Roberts + Kavanaugh | ❌ Liberal/moderate win | Protects ACA’s no-cost preventive care |
| Internet Subsidies (FCC) | 6-3 | Elena Kagan | ❌ Liberal win | Upholds broadband subsidies for low-income/rural areas |
| Louisiana Redistricting | Deferred | — | ➖ Undecided | Case re-argued, district remains for now |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What does the nationwide injunction ruling mean?
A: Lower courts can no longer block federal policies nationwide unless the case is a certified class action. This makes it harder to stop presidential actions with a single court ruling.
Q2: Is birthright citizenship now banned?
A: No. The Court did not rule on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order. It only sent the case back to lower courts to revise the scope of their injunctions. A final decision may come in October 2025.
Q3: Does the Texas porn ruling affect all states?
A: It sets a precedent. While it only upholds Texas’ law, other states are likely to follow with similar laws; now less vulnerable to constitutional challenge.
Q4: Who were the biggest winners of this term?
A: President Donald Trump, conservative judicial philosophy, religious rights advocates, and rural broadband supporters all gained ground. Public education, civil liberties advocates, and racial justice proponents saw mixed results.
Q5: What’s next?
The Louisiana gerrymandering case will return next term. Also, a future challenge to Trump’s birthright order is expected.
