Sponsors (2)
The bill centralizes review of executive actions in randomly selected three-judge panels to reduce single-judge nationwide injunctions and forum-shopping, at the cost of slower emergency relief and added administrative burden on courts.
State governments and taxpayers will face fewer single-judge nationwide injunctions because preliminary equitable relief against executive actions must be approved by a majority of a convened three-judge panel.
Parties suing the executive branch will have more predictable and uniform procedures because three-judge panels are required and the Chief Justice randomly designates judges, reducing ad-hoc outcomes.
Taxpayers and litigants will likely face less forum-shopping and increased impartiality in high-stakes suits against the executive because judges are selected at random across circuits.
Individuals, states, and other litigants seeking urgent relief from the courts may experience slower access to emergency remedies because relief requires majority approval by a convened three-judge panel instead of immediate single-judge action.
Federal courts and taxpayers may incur higher administrative costs and delays because the Chief Justice must designate panels and cross-circuit judge selection adds logistical complexity.
Federal judges and court staff will lose some case-management flexibility and face increased workload because single judges are prohibited from referring matters to magistrates or appointing masters for these cases.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced March 24, 2025 by Mike Lee · Last progress March 24, 2025
Creates special procedures for any civil case asking a court to block, vacate, stay, or declare unlawful an executive-branch action or a Presidential executive order. It requires that such cases be heard by a randomly designated three-judge district court (including at least one active circuit judge), requires a majority of that three-judge panel to approve temporary restraining orders or injunctions, and prevents a single judge from handling or delegating preliminary or permanent equitable relief in these cases.