The rule of law in the United States faces significant scrutiny as the federal judiciary navigated a tumultuous year in 2025. With lower courts often issuing rulings that challenged the Trump administration’s assertions of executive authority, the Supreme Court frequently intervened, overruling these decisions without extensive explanations. Chief Justice John Roberts asserts the rule of law remains strong, stating the Constitution is “firm and unshaken” as the country heads into 2026.
Roberts’ remarks come on the heels of a year marked by apprehensions among legal scholars and Democrats about a potential constitutional crisis, fueled by President Donald Trump’s sweeping conservative agenda. According to The Associated Press, Roberts voiced a rare public rebuke in March when Trump suggested impeaching a lower-court judge who ruled unfavorably for the administration. Despite the challenges, the Supreme Court delivered approximately two dozen victories to Trump on issues related to budgetary authority and the president’s ability to terminate Senate-approved heads of independent agencies.
Context of Judicial Tensions
The backdrop of Roberts’ report reveals a judiciary under pressure. Last year’s court rulings provided Trump with increased latitude to steer federal governance, as pointed out by the Los Angeles Times. Legal experts, such as David Cole from Georgetown Law, noted that while the Supreme Court favored the president on many occasions, there were notable exceptions. These included decisions that prohibited the White House from unilaterally deploying the National Guard to American cities and affirmed immigrants’ rights to due process before deportation.
As The Associated Press reported, some of Trump’s most controversial policies are slated to reach the Supreme Court in 2026. These cases will likely address the legality of tariffs imposed by the administration and whether the government can deny birthright citizenship to the children of immigrants.
In contrast to Roberts’ optimistic assessment, Bloomberg Law highlighted that the Chief Justice’s report lacked acknowledgment of the tumult that characterized the federal judiciary. Federal judges have increasingly come under fire from Trump and his supporters, facing verbal attacks, threats, and harassment following unfavorable rulings. Tensions between the Supreme Court and lower federal courts became evident, with judges expressing frustration over the lack of guidance in what are known as pro-Trump “shadow docket” decisions.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Supreme Court’s agenda for 2026 is packed with pivotal cases. In addition to those concerning tariffs and birthright citizenship, justices will deliberate on matters related to the Voting Rights Act, transgender athletes, state-level bans on conversion therapy, and a Hawaii law regulating firearm access on private property. As noted by Axxos, the previously amicable relationship between the Supreme Court and Trump may face challenges in the new year, with indications that the justices are prepared to deliver at least one significant setback to the president regarding tariffs or his efforts to dismiss a member of the Federal Reserve Board.
According to Richard Pildes, a professor at New York University School of Law, the Supreme Court will not confront the president directly until spring 2026. As the judiciary continues to grapple with these complex issues, the interpretation and enforcement of the rule of law will remain at the forefront of national discourse, shaping the political landscape in the United States.
