NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS:
THE RISE OF JUDGE-LEGISLATORS AND THE DILEMMA OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/redp.2026.93674Abstract
This essay critically examines the phenomenon of nationwide injunctions within the U.S. federal judiciary, in which district court judges issue decisions with national reach, affecting public policies and millions of individuals not directly involved in the underlying litigation. The research addresses the controversy surrounding the legitimacy and institutional impact of such orders, especially following their exponential growth since 2010 in policy areas such as immigration and public health. Through a critical-analytical approach and bibliographic research, the article explores the historical and normative foundations of nationwide injunctions, assesses their democratic and institutional implications, and analyzes landmark cases such as Trump v. CASA, Inc. (2025), which redefined the boundaries of equitable jurisdiction. While the U.S. Supreme Court did not prohibit the use of such remedies, it substantially curtailed their scope, sparking debate over the tension between the protection of fundamental rights and the preservation of institutional balance.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Fernando Gama de Miranda Netto, Geovana Faza da Silveira Fernandes
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