In recent years, America’s courts have been used for many things that they were not originally intended to be used for. We have seen the courts used to target political opponents, to put laws in place that were never voted on, and also be used to promote a social or political agenda. Some of that misuse may be coming to an abrupt halt.
On Saturday, The Patriot Journal reported the following:
Americans expect their government to work efficiently. They want policies implemented without needless delays. They expect the administration they voted for to be able to govern.
But what happens when unelected officials and special interest groups repeatedly obstruct the will of the people?
The cost to taxpayers is enormous. The damage to effective governance is incalculable.
President Donald Trump has had enough. In a bold move to protect American taxpayers and restore constitutional order, Trump signed a memo on Thursday directing government agency heads to hold activist groups financially accountable when they sue the government.
The directive specifically instructs federal agencies to ask judges to require financial guarantees from groups seeking to block government actions through preliminary injunctions or temporary restraining orders.
“Agencies must justify security amounts based on reasoned assessments of harm, ensuring courts deny or dissolve injunctions if plaintiffs fail to pay up, absent good cause,” the White House said in the fact sheet obtained by Fox News Digital.
…For too long, activist groups have used the court system as a weapon to obstruct policies they disagree with. They file lawsuits with little financial risk to themselves. The costs fall on American taxpayers—that’s you and me paying the bill for their political games.
The article notes that this directive will bring us closer to the government our Founding Fathers created:
The importance of this directive is highlighted by recent Supreme Court activity. Just Wednesday, the high court issued a 5-4 ruling on a case involving nearly $2 billion in foreign aid money.
Such cases demonstrate how litigation can impact major policy decisions and government operations. When activist judges issue nationwide injunctions, they effectively give a single district court power over the entire executive branch. Does that sound like what the Founding Fathers intended? I think not.
Trump’s memo represents a return to proper constitutional balance. It recognizes that while the judiciary has an important role in our system, it cannot be allowed to usurp the authority of the democratically elected executive.
By requiring financial guarantees, the administration is creating a powerful incentive for groups to bring only meritorious cases rather than using litigation as a political tool.
This is a step in the right direction to get our country back into the hands of the voters.