Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided news article about Donald Trump's legal entanglements, presented in markdown format: ## Donald Trump in Court: A Statistical Overview **News Title:** Donald Trump in court, by the numbers **Report Provider:** Crikey **Author:** Charlie Lewis **Publication Date:** September 2, 2025 **Key Identifier:** URL: `https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/02/donald-trump-in-court-by-the-numbers/` --- ### Main Findings and Conclusions A US federal appeals court has ruled that former President Donald Trump overstepped his presidential powers in his imposition of sweeping tariffs on foreign nations earlier this year. The legality of this policy is now likely to be decided by the US Supreme Court. The article provides a statistical breakdown of Donald Trump's extensive involvement in court actions, both as a complainant and a defendant, throughout his career. --- ### Key Statistics and Metrics The article highlights Donald Trump's prolific engagement with the legal system through a series of numerical data points: * **Total Lawsuits (1973-2016):** An estimated **4,095** lawsuits involved Donald Trump. * **Lawsuits Against the Second Trump Administration:** More than **200** lawsuits were launched against executive orders and policies of the second Trump administration. * **Federal Judges Facing Lawsuits:** **All 15** federal judges in Maryland were facing lawsuits from the Trump administration until the action was thrown out. * **Civil Fraud Trial Penalty:** Trump faced a penalty of **US$500 million** in a New York civil fraud trial before it was dismissed by an appeals court. * **Unaccompanied Children Deportation:** Approximately **600** unaccompanied children were to be returned to Guatemala until a US District Judge issued an emergency halt. This order was issued at **4 am** on a holiday weekend. * **Alien Enemies Act Usage:** The Alien Enemies Act, passed in **1798**, was invoked **three times** in US history prior to 2025. The Trump administration deported **261** people to El Salvador under this act, following a court order forbidding it. * **Violated Court Orders:** The second Trump administration violated **six** court orders. * **Texas Congressional Seats:** Texas Republicans are likely to win **five** extra seats in the next Congress due to a redrawn congressional map, which is currently being opposed in court by the NAACP. * **January 6 Civil Lawsuit Complainants:** **13** complainants (11 politicians and 2 Capitol Police officers) faced Trump in the civil lawsuit following the January 6, 2021 riots. * **Criminal Cases (2020-2024):** Trump faced **four** criminal cases between 2020 and 2024. * **Judicial Appointments (First Term):** Trump made **245** judicial appointments in his first term. * **Supreme Court Appointments (First Term):** Trump appointed **three** Supreme Court justices in his first term. * **Supreme Court Ideological Balance:** As a result of these appointments, "conservatives" outnumber "liberals" on the US Supreme Court by **three** (six conservatives to three liberals). * **Supreme Court Immunity Ruling:** The Supreme Court ruled **6-3** that Trump was entitled to "absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority" and "entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts" regarding January 6. * **Potential Future Appointments:** Advocacy group Demand Justice estimates Trump has the potential to make **more than 300** appointments in the next four years. --- ### Significant Trends or Changes The data presented indicates a consistent and extensive pattern of Donald Trump's involvement in legal proceedings, both as a plaintiff and a defendant, across various levels of the US judicial system. His administration was characterized by numerous executive actions and policies that faced significant legal challenges. Furthermore, his judicial appointments have demonstrably shaped the ideological balance of the US Supreme Court, influencing key rulings. --- ### Notable Risks or Concerns The article implicitly raises concerns about the impact of frequent litigation on governance and the potential for political influence on the judiciary, particularly highlighted by the Supreme Court's immunity ruling. The violation of court orders by the Trump administration also points to a disregard for judicial authority. The redrawing of congressional maps and subsequent legal opposition also signifies ongoing political and legal battles.
Donald Trump in court, by the numbers
Read original at Crikey →Donald Trump has been a prolific cause of court actions over the years, both civil and criminal. Sep 2, 2025 2 min read (Image: Private Media) A US federal appeals court has ruled that US President Donald Trump overstepped his presidential powers in his imposition of sweeping tariffs on foreign nations earlier this year.
The legality of the second Trump administration’s core policy is now likely to be determined by the US Supreme Court. For some idea of how that might work out, Crikey’s latest Paint by Numbers offers a rundown of Trump — a prolific complainant and defendant over the years — in court, by the numbers.
*** Number of lawsuits Donald Trump was estimated to have been involved in between 1973 and 2016, the year of his first ascension to the presidency: 4,095 Number of lawsuits launched against the second Trump administration’s executive orders and policies: More than 200 Independent. Irreverent. In your inbox Get the headlines they don’t want you to read.
Sign up to Crikey’s free newsletters for fearless reporting, sharp analysis, and a touch of chaos By continuing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Number of Maryland’s federal judges who were facing lawsuits from the Trump administration (until it was thrown out): All 15 Level of penalty Trump was facing in a New York civil fraud trial until it was thrown out last month by an appeals court: US$500 million Number of unaccompanied children to be returned to Guatemala until an emergency halt was ordered by US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan: Around 600 The time at which Sooknanan had to issue this order after it was revealed the Trump administration was “attempting to remove minor children from the country in the wee hours of the morning on a holiday weekend”: 4am Year the Alien Enemies Act, which Trump relied on to deport alleged gang members, was passed: 1798 Number of times the act has been invoked in US history prior to 2025: Three Number of people the Trump administration deported to El Salvador under the act, following a court order forbidding it: 261 Number of court orders the second Trump administration has violated: Six Number of extra seats Texas Republicans are likely win in the next Congress due to a redrawn congressional map (currently being opposed in court by the NAACP): Five Number of complainants Trump faced in the civil lawsuit following the January 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol building: 13 (11 politicians and 2 Capitol Police officers) Number of criminal cases Trump faced between 2020 and 2024: Four Number of judicial appointments Trump made in his first term: 245 Number of Supreme Court justices appointed by Trump in his first term: Three Number by which “conservatives” outnumber “liberals” on the US Supreme Court as a result of these appointments: Three (six conservatives to three liberals) Majority by which the Supreme Court ruled that Trump was entitled “to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority” and is “entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts” regarding January 6: 6-3 Number of appointments Trump has the potential to make in the next four years, according to advocacy group Demand Justice: More than 300
