The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on Friday, which limits the power of federal judges to block executive orders nationwide, is being hailed as a major legal victory for President Donald Trump — and sharply criticized by legal experts, particularly on MSNBC.
NYU law professor and MSNBC legal analyst Melissa Murray called the ruling a “death blow to the rule of law,” saying it strips courts of their ability to halt executive actions — even when those actions may be unconstitutional.
Speaking on Ana Cabrera Reports shortly after the decision was handed down, Murray said the ruling empowers Trump to carry out controversial immigration policies — including his attempt to end birthright citizenship — without judicial restraint.
“This is a massive win for the president,” Murray said. “The court has essentially blocked lower courts from intervening when the administration acts unlawfully or without regard to due process.”
The ruling doesn’t directly address the constitutionality of Executive Order 14160, which Trump signed in January to revoke automatic citizenship for those born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. But it does weaken the ability of courts to issue nationwide injunctions, a key tool that had previously been used to stall or stop Trump’s executive actions.
Trump’s order argues that the Fourteenth Amendment was intended to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved people — not to “everyone born on American soil.” The order sparked immediate legal challenges and was initially blocked by multiple federal judges. But with Friday’s ruling, those nationwide blocks are now far more difficult to impose.
The Supreme Court’s majority opinion, written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, argued that courts should not exceed their authority by attempting to oversee the entire Executive Branch.
“Federal courts do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch,” the decision stated. “They resolve individual cases and controversies consistent with the powers given to them by Congress.”
Former U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg, also appearing on MSNBC, agreed the ruling marks a shift in power — not just for Trump, but for the presidency in general.
“It’s a sweeping victory for the Executive Branch,” Rosenberg said. “Whether the president is a Democrat or a Republican, this decision now limits a single federal judge’s ability to block an executive order across the country.”
While Trump and his allies celebrated the ruling — with Trump declaring it a “Giant Win” on Truth Social — critics warn it could make it harder for courts to serve as a check on presidential overreach in the future.
