Why are States Always Suing the Federal Government?

Event Description

  •  Student Organizations
  •  Students

States are suing the federal government more than ever—but why? What’s driving the surge in state-led challenges, and what does it mean for federalism, separation of powers, and the courts’ role in checking executive action? Join the Federalist Society on Join us for a debate moderated by the Hon. William Montgomery of the AZ Supreme Court, featuring the Hon. Aaron Nielson, former Solicitor General for Texas, and the Hon. Josh Bendor, current Solicitor General for Arizona. We’ll discuss how common state-federal litigation has become, the incentives and institutional dynamics that fuel it, and whether reforms could reduce litigation while preserving meaningful judicial review. The panel will also explore timely questions including the Supreme Court’s emergency docket, the implications of CASA’s holding on universal injunctions for state-led suits, and whether multistate coalitions are a healthy feature—or a troubling distortion—of our system.

Cafe Rio will be provided!

Event Contact

Jason Huang
The Federalist Society
Date

Monday, Feb 2, 2026

Time

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM (AZ)

Location

BCLS 250