U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming and Chuck Grassley from Iowa introduced new legislation called the Judicial Relief Clarification Act of 2025 (JRCA) in Washington, D.C. The proposed bill aims to limit federal court orders to only the parties directly involved in court cases. This would effectively end the practice of universal injunctions and reinforce the judiciary’s role to interpret the law without partisan influence.
The bill stipulates that those seeking nationwide relief must instead file a class action lawsuit, offering a more defined legal pathway. It also proposes amendments to the Administrative Procedure Act and the Declaratory Judgment Act. These amendments would restrict court decisions to the immediate parties and allow for temporary restraining orders to be appealed right away.
Senator Lummis emphasized that “judges are not policymakers – and they have not been elected by the American people to legislate.” She noted concerns about the courts being used as tools for political agendas and expressed support for legislation that would prevent judicial overreach and uphold constitutional integrity.
Chairman Grassley echoed similar sentiments, pointing out the recent trend of “sweeping orders from individual district judges that dictate national policy.” He remarked that the Judicial Relief Clarification Act would help clarify and limit judicial power, aligning it with constitutional provisions. “It’s a commonsense bill that’s needed to provide long-term constitutional clarity and curb district courts’ growing tendency to overstep by issuing sweeping, nationwide orders,” Grassley stated.
The bill has received support from several co-sponsors including Senators John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn, Katie Britt, and others across various states.
