Judge Blocks Second Trump Order on Birthright Citizenship

A federal judge in Maryland has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a new executive order that sought to limit eligibility for birthright citizenship. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday. The order prevents agencies such as the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Social Security Administration from interfering with, denying, or failing to recognize the citizenship of children covered by a class action lawsuit.

Judge Boardman cited a June Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Trump administration's first executive order on the issue. She stated that the Supreme Court had "already decided that the children in the class are citizens at birth." Immigrant rights advocates had requested the injunction, having previously secured a ruling from Judge Boardman against the initial order.

In other court developments, Republican groups have asked the Supreme Court to block a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision. That decision prevents political parties and joint fundraising committees from receiving preferential broadcast rates for political advertisements. The Supreme Court has requested a response from the four Democrats who challenged the rates by noon EDT today.

Separately, a Michigan group has urged the Supreme Court to require Michigan election officials to place a proposal on the November ballot. This proposal would mandate proof of citizenship for voting in the state. Michigan officials filed their response to this request on Wednesday. The Michigan officials argued that the process for a referendum is a state-created right, not guaranteed by the First Amendment.

On Friday at 9:30 a.m. EDT, the Supreme Court will release its third and final summer order list.

New Jersey has also brought a case to the Supreme Court regarding the regulatory control of prediction markets. The state has asked the justices to clarify whether sports prediction markets constitute sports bets, which fall under state regulation, or hedging tools defined as 'swaps,' regulated by the federal government. This appeal follows a 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that supported the latter view, and a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that sided with Nevada gaming regulators, creating a circuit split.

In the House of Representatives, Democrats defeated a constitutional amendment that would have fixed the number of Supreme Court justices at nine. The vote was 212-206. Only one Democrat, Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina, voted with Republicans. The amendment required two-thirds support to pass.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a father could restrict his daughter's attendance at an evangelical church. The court upheld a Portland District Court judge's decision, which found that some church teachings were "psychologically damaging the child." The mother's lawyer indicated plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court recently allowed construction to continue on a new White House ballroom. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, joined by the court's three Democratic appointees.