Principled limited government constitutional conservative Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) yesterday introduced the Restraining Judicial Insurrectionists Act of 2025, which establishes
a three-judge panel to swiftly review injunctions or declaratory relief against the President of the United States and the Executive Branch, with quick appeal to the Supreme Court. This legislation comes in the wake of several decisions by district court judges usurping the role of the Chief Executive from President Donald Trump and attempting to thwart the will of the American people who elected him.
“America’s government cannot function if the legitimate orders of our Commander in Chief can be overridden at the whim of a single district court judge,” said Senator Lee. “They have presumed to run the military, the civil service, foreign aid, and HR departments across the Executive Branch—blatantly unconstitutional overreach. This legislation will create a judicial panel to expedite Supreme Court review of these blanket injunctions, preventing unelected radicals in robes from sabotaging the separation of powers.”
The Utah Republican’s bill comes as Trump and his allies have fumed at federal judges halting the administration’s actions, with rulings that have grounded deportation flights and ordered the rehiring of thousands of federal workers fired by the administration.
President Trump has gone as far as to call for the impeachment of federal judges such as U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who temporarily barred the administration from carrying out deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
House Republicans have introduced several articles of impeachment against federal judges, including Boasberg, Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York, and Judges Amir Ali and John Bates of Washington, D.C., noted the Washington Examiner's Hailey Bullis.
Lee’s bill could unlock a different option for Republicans to restrict the judicial branch and provide an off-ramp for Republicans who are shy about taking drastic action against specific judges. The bill would require the majority of judges on the panel to agree to issue a ruling, whether preliminary or permanent, and all orders would be appealable to the Supreme Court.
House Republicans are also exploring a third option to limit federal judges. According to Politico, GOP leadership is eyeing a bill from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) for a floor vote in early April that would restrict judges from issuing far-reaching injunctions, reported the Washington Examiner.
BACKGROUND ON THE RESTRAINING JUDICIAL INSURRECTIONISTS ACT OF 2025
The bill amends 28 USC 2284 to state that any action commenced against the executive seeking injunctive or declaratory relief against the Executive will go to a three-judge district court.
Next, it requires that upon filing any covered action, the district judge who received the complaint and/or motion for preliminary injunction will refer the matter to the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice will then be required to select three judges in active service to preside over the case.
Additionally, the bill requires that a majority of the judges must agree to issue any form of relief, preliminary or permanent.
Finally, because this is a three-judge district court, all orders are directly appealable to the Supreme Court without discretion—so they must take up the case.
To read the full text of the bill click here.
2024 Election
Trump executive orders
Senator Mike Lee
Restraining Judicial Insurrectionists Act of 2025
District Court Judges
Chief Justice John Roberts
Judge Boasberg
Injunctions
Three Judge panel
Blanket Injunctions
Deportations
Judge impeachments
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