Clinton-Appointed Judge Blocks Trump’s Proof of Citizenship Rule for Voters [WATCH]

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has blocked the Trump administration’s effort to require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration forms, ruling that the mandate violated the separation of powers.

The decision marks a significant setback for the administration’s election integrity initiative, which sought to ensure that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections.

🚨 JUDICIAL COUP: Clinton-appointed Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly (confirmed 99-0 in ’97) just BLOCKED Trump’s voter citizenship proof!

Democrats want illegal aliens voting unchecked.

When will @SpeakerJohnson begin impeaching these left-wing activists? pic.twitter.com/gwl5N2LPph

— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) November 1, 2025

The ruling, issued in Washington, D.C., came after several left-leaning advocacy groups challenged the administration’s rule in federal court.

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The plaintiffs argued that the requirement to provide documentation of citizenship placed an undue burden on voter registration and exceeded executive authority under existing federal law.

According to the Associated Press, Judge Kollar-Kotelly agreed with those arguments, concluding that the proof-of-citizenship directive could not be imposed without congressional approval.

Her opinion stated that the administration’s action conflicted with the structure of authority established under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).

The decision halts a key component of President Donald Trump’s executive order on election integrity, which aimed to strengthen safeguards around voter eligibility following concerns about noncitizen voting and irregularities in federal elections.

Supporters of the administration’s policy have long argued that proof of citizenship is a basic and necessary measure to prevent illegal voting and restore public trust in the election system.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling drew attention because of her prior judicial record and her appointment by President Bill Clinton in 1997.

She currently serves as a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

In addition to her judicial duties, she has served as an adjunct professor in Georgetown University’s joint program on mental health and the law and as chair of the Board of the Art Trust for the D.C. Superior Court.

This latest ruling follows an earlier decision in April in which Kollar-Kotelly partially blocked portions of President Trump’s executive order on election integrity.

That decision prevented federal agencies from adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to federal voter registration forms pending further legal review.

The administration and several Republican-led states had supported the requirement, arguing that the measure would align with voter ID laws already in place in numerous states and reduce opportunities for fraudulent registration.

The Department of Justice is expected to review the ruling and consider potential avenues for appeal.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly has faced criticism in the past from conservative groups for several high-profile rulings.

In 2024, she presided over the case of Paulette Harlow, a 76-year-old pro-life activist convicted for her role in a 2020 demonstration outside an abortion facility.

According to court records, Harlow was sentenced to two years in prison under federal civil rights statutes related to access to reproductive health services.

The Catholic News Agency reported that Harlow suffers from serious health conditions and that her husband expressed concern she might not survive her sentence.

The case drew national attention among faith-based organizations and lawmakers advocating for leniency for elderly or nonviolent offenders.

The Department of Justice’s prosecution of Harlow was part of a broader federal initiative under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s handling of that case, including comments made during sentencing, drew renewed attention to her courtroom conduct and judicial approach.

The sentencing was passed by Judge Kollar-Kotelly. After Harlow’s husband begged for mercy, expressing his fear that his wife would die alone in prison, the judge taunted that maybe Harlow would “make an effort to remain alive” because that is a “tenet of [Harlow’s] religion.” pic.twitter.com/Bs4xwiycJh

— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) June 3, 2024

With this week’s ruling, the Trump administration’s effort to impose proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration remains on hold.

The Department of Justice has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The debate over voter eligibility and election security is expected to continue as both Congress and the courts confront questions about federal and state authority in administering elections.

The administration has emphasized that it will continue pursuing measures to ensure that only citizens are registered and that future elections are conducted with full transparency and legality.