Gingrich warns judges overstepping power against Trump policies

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will deliver a stark warning about judicial overreach during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, highlighting concerns about what he describes as a “potential judicial coup d’etat” by federal judges, according to his prepared testimony.

The joint hearing, hosted by two House Judiciary Committee subcommittees, will examine the increasing frequency of nationwide injunctions that have hindered various Trump administration initiatives, from employment decisions to immigration enforcement actions.

“There is clearly a potential constitutional crisis involving the Judicial Branch’s effort to fully override the Legislative and Executive branches,” a draft of Gingrich’s remarks says. “Fifteen District Judges effectively seized control of various Executive Branch duties in the first six weeks of the current presidency through nationwide injunctions. This is potentially a judicial coup d’etat. It clearly violates the Constitution and more than 200 years of American history.”

The Founding Fathers deeply distrusted judges. They thought the lawyer class was dangerous, and if given unbridled power they would undermine and destroy free society. pic.twitter.com/4s6o6uM4M8

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) April 1, 2025

The hearing will feature testimony from Gingrich alongside Heritage Foundation Legal Scholar Paul Larkin and Tren de Aragua victim Cindy Romero, addressing both subcommittees focused on constitutional matters and judicial oversight.

Gingrich’s prepared remarks emphasize that the current administration has faced more nationwide injunctions than its predecessors, with 15 such orders issued since January 20, 2025, surpassing the combined total of previous administrations under Bush, Obama, and Biden. His analysis reveals that Democratic-appointed judges have issued 92% of these injunctions against Trump.

“The notion that unelected lawyers can micromanage the Executive Branch – and override a Commander in Chief who received 77.3 million votes – should trouble every American,” Gingrich writes.

"The notion that unelected lawyers can micromanage the executive branch & override a commander-in-chief who received 73 million votes should trouble every American."

WATCH: Speaker @newtgingrich details the unprecedented number of nationwide injunctions imposed by rogue judges. pic.twitter.com/RAeWFveo6Q

— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) April 1, 2025

To address these concerns, Gingrich will recommend that Chief Justice John Roberts implement a rule requiring immediate Supreme Court review of nationwide injunctions from lower courts. Additionally, he supports the “No Rogue Rulings Act,” sponsored by Representatives Darrell Issa and Chip Roy, which would limit injunctions to affect only the specific parties involved in each case.

“The practice of entering nationwide injunctions against the federal government in any case not properly certified as a nationwide class action is both unlawful and unwise,” a draft of Larkin’s remarks says. “Neither the Constitution, the Judicial Code, nor common-law principles of issue or claim preclusion authorizes a federal court to award relief to individuals who are not parties to a particular ‘Case’ or ‘Controversy.'”

While the Trump administration has repeatedly sought Supreme Court intervention in these judicial disputes, the high court has maintained a largely hands-off approach, only stepping in to reverse a single ruling regarding foreign aid contractor payments.