US Supreme Court Hands Trump Another Major Victory

Justices Curb the Ability of Federal Judges to Impede the President's Policies Nationwide

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WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court on the last day of rulings for its current term gave US President Donald Trump his latest in a series of victories at the nation's top judicial body, one that may make it easier for him to implement contentious elements of his sweeping agenda as he tests the limits of presidential power.

With its six conservative members in the majority and its three liberals dissenting, the court on June 27 curbed the ability of judges to impede his policies nationwide, resetting the power balance between the federal judiciary and presidents.

The ruling came after the Republican President's administration asked the Supreme Court to narrow the scope of so-called "universal" injunctions issued by three federal judges that halted nationally the enforcement of his January executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

The court's decision has "systematically weakened judicial oversight and strengthened executive discretion", said Mr Paul Rosenzweig, an attorney who served in Republican president George W. Bush's administration.

June 27's ruling said that judges generally can grant relief only to the individuals or groups who brought a particular lawsuit.

The decision did not, however, permit immediate implementation of Mr Trump's directive, instead instructing lower courts to reconsider the scope of the injunctions. The ruling was authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, one of three conservative justices whom Mr Trump appointed during his first term in office.