As we approach even more attempted confirmations of Trump lifetime federal judges this fall, a look back reveals more than 40 rulings this summer involving previously confirmed Trump circuit court judges and Supreme Court justices that seriously harm our rights and liberties. Many of these decisions have upheld action by Trump to dismantle crucial agencies and functions of our federal government, often despite rulings blocking such action by federal district judges nominated by both parties. Other subjects include, civil rights immigration, gun safety, law enforcement abuse, and environmental and consumer issues.
This post highlights 42 decisions from June 1 through August 31, 2025, in which Trump justices and circuit court judges have all too often upheld Trump efforts to dismantle our government, undermine immigrant rights, as well as impair other critical rights, including voting rights, reproductive freedom, access to criminal justice, and freedom from discrimination. Each case is summarized below, along with a link to the full People For the American Way blog entry on the decision and 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.
ENABLING TRUMP’S AUTOCRATIC TAKEOVER (11)
Trump Judges Let Trump Keep Control of California National Guard in LA
Trump Justices Sabotage Our Courts in Nationwide Injunction Case
Trump Justices Again Allow Trump’s Illegal Firing of Agency Commissioners Without Cause
Trump Justices Let Trump Dismantle the Education Department
Trump Judges Issue Extraordinary Ruling to Help Trump Administration Avoid Contempt of Court
Trump Judge Allows DOGE Access to Sensitive Data on Millions of Americans
Trump Judges Approve Trump Firing of CFPB Workers and Dismantling of Agency
UPHOLDING ATTACKS BY TRUMP AND OTHERS ON IMMIGRANTS (9)
Trump Judge Casts Deciding Vote to Reject El Salvador Torture Claim
Trump Judges Let Trump Keep Control of California National Guard in LA
Trump Judge Strikes Down State Law Limiting Civil Detention of Immigrants
Trump Judge Provides Deciding Vote to Withdraw Consent to Guilty Plea of 9/11 Plotters
Trump Judge Would Allow Enforcement of Texas’s Anti-Immigrant Law
GUN SAFETY, CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (5)
Trump Judges Approve Large Oil Drilling Project on Federal Public Lands in Alaska
Trump Judges Strike Down California Gun Law
Trump Judges Cast Deciding Votes to Throw Out Class Action Against GM for Auto and Truck Defects
Trump Judge Casts Deciding Vote to Enjoin State Law Requiring Waiting Period for Gun Purchases
OTHER CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (17)
Voting Rights
Trump Judges Reverse Injunction Against Restrictive State Voting Rights Law
LGBTQ+ Rights
Supreme Court’s MAGA Majority Upholds Anti-Trans Law
Trump Judges Side with Teacher Who Objects to Accommodating Transgender Students
Reproductive Freedom
Trump Justices Cast Key Votes to Authorize States to Cut Off Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood
Trump Judge Throws Out Agency Rule Protecting Reproductive Privacy
Criminal Justice
Trump Judge Casts Deciding Vote to Reject Death Penalty Appeal
Trump Judge Casts Deciding Vote to Require Restitution by Prisoner Despite Lack of Evidence
Trump Judges Reward Government Cover-Up of Deadly Abuse
Trump Judges Reverse Lower Court and Throw Out Claim of Use of Excessive Force by Federal Officials
Disability Rights
Trump Judge Rejects Social Security Disability Appeal
Racial Discrimination
Trump Judges’ Opinion Affirms Dismissal of Job Discrimination Claim by Black Woman Against Army
Trump Judges Ignore Evidence of Racial Discrimination in Firing of City’s First Black Police Chief
