During July-August 2026, Trump judges across the country, including the Supreme Court, have produced more decisions harming people’s rights. Twenty-five 25 such decisions were issued in that time on, concerning such key subjects as abuse of presidential power, immigrants’ rights, labor law, LGBTQ+ rights and gun violence. In the meantime, the Senate has worked on confirming even more lifetime federal judges nominated by Trump.
Each July-August case is summarized below, along with a link to the ruling itself. Such rulings demonstrate the importance to all of us of nominating and confirming fair-minded federal judges and the dangers posed by Trump-nominated judges.
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS
Fifth Circuit Trump judge Corey Wilson would reduce constitutional protections to targeted immigrants.
The Trump administration is holding thousands of longtime resident immigrants in detention without bond. In dissent, Wilson wrote that this does not violate their Due Process rights.
Fourth Circuit Trump judge Julius Richardson denies an immigrant’s request for cancellation of removal even though an officer had earlier stamped “admitted” on her passport.
Alejandra Cisneros, an immigrant from El Salvador, was ordered removed and deported even though an immigration officer had earlier stamped “admitted” on her passport.
Second Circuit Trump judges William Nardini and Steven Menashi allow detention of immigrant student pending review of his deportation order.
The Trump Justice Department had an immigrant student arrested, detained and later deported because of his political activities.
Ninth Circuit Trump judge Mark Bennett casts deciding vote to deny asylum claim despite strong evidence of threats.
Loreny Alejandra Aguilar Maldonado and her family sought asylum from Guatemala of threats against her in connection with her father’s murder and the government’s inability or unwillingness to “control her persecutors.”
Fifth Circuit Trump judge Cory Wilson was the deciding vote denying asylum to a gay Russian man even though he had presented information showing a risk of anti-LGBTQ persecution in Russia should he be forced to return.
In dissent, Judge James Graves in dissent noted that the Immigration Judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals has not meaningfully addressed the evidence presented to them concerning the possibility of future persecution.
Ninth Circuit Trump judges Ryan Nelson and Daniel Collins upheld the denial of a Guatemalan woman’s asylum application.
Guatemala citizen Santa Jeronimo de Ramos, along with her daughter, sought asylum in the US. An Immigration Judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals denied her request, finding her not credible in claiming persecution of indigenous women in Guatemala.
ABUSE OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER
Supreme Court lets Trump proceed with carrying out election interference executive order pending litigation (but does not address the merits of the arguments).
In a 6-3 decision, the Court issued a procedural ruling stating that it is too soon to determine if the regulations eventually adopted to carry out Trump’s executive order will be illegal. The order gives the federal government control over who can vote by mail.
Trump justices Gorsuch Kavanaugh and Barrett cast deciding votes to approve continued construction of Trump White House ballroom.
Chief Justice Roberts maintained that the parties suing had standing to sue because of potential aesthetic injury and noted that the demolition of the East Wing and the construction project are “likely unlawful.”
FIRST AMENDMENT
Third Circuit Trump judges Stephanos Bibas and Peter Phipps write 2-1 decision allowing defamation suit by conservative professor against his critics.
A conservative professor claimed he was defamed by faculty members and the university because they criticized an article he wrote objecting to affirmative action.
POLICE AND OTHER OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT
Sixth Circuit Trump judge Eric Murphy writes 2-1 decision affirming dismissal of claim excessive force during traffic stop.
Naya Abbey sought to recover damages for the harm inflicted as a consequence of the use of excessive force during a traffic stop.
Ninth Circuit Trump judge Patrick Bumatay writes 2-1 decision allowing use of evidence secured without a warrant in violation of parole agreement.
Parolee Binisio Nicolas Pereda claimeds authorities violated his early release agreement to limit warrantless search to his residence and properties under his control.
Fourth Circuit Trump judge Allison Rushing wrote a 2-1 decision that shielded a police officer from liability for using excessive force and killing a man during a welfare check
Jerry Crosby’s wife called the police to request a welfare check because Crosby had threatened to harm himself. Crosby pulled out a rifle when the responding officer Jacob Scott entered and called to him, and Scott shot and killed Crosby.
Eighth Circuit Trump judge David Stras casts deciding vote to immunize prison officials from liability concerning prisoner suicide.
A year after his attempted suicide at another state prison in Missouri, Austen May hung himself in a prison cell in his then-current prison. Kristine Williams, May’s mother claimed prison officials were deliberately indifferent to a “dangerous condition” responsible for the suicide-- a defective video monitoring system, an obstruction by May that covered his cell window, and failure to make “regular checks” of the cell.
Ninth Circuit Trump judge Patrick Bumatay casts deciding vote that reverses lower court and grants immunity to law enforcement officials for use of excessive force.
Justin Edmiston was confined in Ely State prison in Nevada. He alleged that when extracting him from his cell one day, officers threw him to the ground and restrained him, during which time they allegedly beat him, resulting in “bleeding, two black eyes, and other injuries.”
Seventh Circuit Trump judges Thomas Kirsch and Michael Brennan grant qualified immunity to police charged with harming black Black man, including false imprisonment for more than 30 years.
Johnnie Lee Savory, a black man, was arrested for murder when he was 14, and spent more than 30 years falsely imprisoned, as reflected in a pardon by the Illinois governor. Savory filed suit against the Peoria police and others for improperly detaining him and coercing a confession during 29 hours of interrogation.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Fifth Circuit Trump judges Don WIllett Willett and Cory WIlson Wilson force district judge to end school desegregation case
A Louisiana school board tried to end a desegregation case without a hearing to determine if desegregation had actually been fully achieved.
Fourth Circuit Trump judges Marvin Quattlebaum and Allison Rushing rejected an Air Force officer’s disability claim[MB2] .
Air Force officer Carissa Thompson injured while on authorized leave awe denied disability even thought she had been discharged for unfitness for duty and later given a 40% disability rating by VA.
Ninth Circuit Trump judge Daniel Bress casts deciding vote to proceed with DOJ subpoena harassing provider of gender- affirming care.
Queerdoc, a telehealth provider of gender affirming care had its records subpoenaed pursuant to Trump Executive Order prohibiting federal support for such care.
Sixth Circuit Trump judge Whitney Hermandorfer casts deciding vote to re-imprison ICE protester who was released by district court pending trial.
Minnesota resident Kyle Wagner, an ICE opponent was arrested and held in prison for posting personal identifying information on an ICE supporter. Judge Hermandorfer rejected his being released despite numerous conditions imposed by the district court judge, including severely limiting his internet use.
Third Circuit judge Stephanos Bibas casts deciding vote to allow Trump DOJ to prosecute Democratic Member of Congress in connection with oversight visit.
Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted for contact with agents at the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention center while attempting to return to the secure area to conduct her oversight responsibilities. Dissenting judge Thomas Ambro cautioned that the Executive Branch may not use criminal prosecution “to punish legislators for their oversight” activity.
GUN CONTROL
Six Third Circuit Trump judges cast deciding votes to overturn New Jersey assault weapons ban.
Pro-gun groups challenged a 1990 New Jersey law that criminalized the possession of AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles and magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition.
LABOR LAW
Trump Second Circuit judges Richard Sullivan and Michael Park upheld the denial of a fired GE whistleblower claim.
After filing several internal complaints about “compliance concerns” with federal law, Shashi Mehrotra, a project manager with General Electric, was told he would be fired but could seek rehiring. Mehrotra tried to get rehired repeatedly but was rejected.
Trump DC Circuit judges Neomi Rao and Justin Walker nullify NLRB rule requiring new business owner to continue bargaining with existing union.
The new owner of a hospital sought to avoid an NLRB rule requiring bargaining with the existing union for up to one year.
Trump Seventh Circuit Judge Thomas Kirsch wrote an 8-4 en banc decision, joined by all four other Trump judges on the court, ruling that ruled that a university was not liable for reckless indifference to student-on-student sexual harassment
Isabelle Arana, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, who was raped by another student, claimed she was endangered by the university’s failure to take action beyond issuing a no contact order.
LGBTQ EQUALITY
Fifth Circuit Trump judge Cory Wilson was the deciding vote denying asylum to a gay Russian man even though he had presented information showing a risk of anti-LGBTQ persecution in Russia should he be forced to return.
In dissent, Judge James Graves in dissent noted that the Immigration Judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals has not meaningfully addressed the evidence presented to them concerning the possibility of future persecution.
