If the Supreme Court scraps universal injunctions, obtaining relief from unconstitutional laws will become much more expensive and time consuming for citizens
Universal injunctions present some very thorny policy issues. One voter’s “tool against government lawlessness” is another voter’s “thwarting of the will of the electorate.” And it’s not always true, as the author seems to assume, that every issuance of an injunction actually means the government’s behavior is lawless. If that was the case, then no injunction would ever be overturned on appeal. And we know that’s not the case.
As a libertarian, I incline toward the former view, but I am not unsympathetic to the frustration arising from the combination of forum-shopping and activist judges.
Yep, classic double-edged sword, here. But protecting against government lawlessness should rule the day.
Universal injunctions present some very thorny policy issues. One voter’s “tool against government lawlessness” is another voter’s “thwarting of the will of the electorate.” And it’s not always true, as the author seems to assume, that every issuance of an injunction actually means the government’s behavior is lawless. If that was the case, then no injunction would ever be overturned on appeal. And we know that’s not the case.
As a libertarian, I incline toward the former view, but I am not unsympathetic to the frustration arising from the combination of forum-shopping and activist judges.