In recent years, a single federal judge has gained the power to halt policies across the entire United States.
From birthright citizenship to environmental policies, these sweeping rulings—known as universal or nationwide injunctions—have become one of the most powerful and controversial tools in the federal courts.
How did nationwide injunctions become such a central feature of modern constitutional battles? And should one judge really be able to block a policy for the entire country?
University of Chicago legal scholar Samuel Bray‘s research has helped spark a major rethinking of how courts use this remedy and whether it fits within the Constitution’s design.
In this episode of the Big Brains podcast, Bray explains the history and legal debate behind universal injunctions:
Source: University of Chicago
