Hero of the Week: U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani

This week's hero is U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, a federal judge who prevented the current administration's request to limit voting by mail. So many people in rural America, who can't get to polling places, or people who work long hours and care for their families rely on mail in ballots. Even the virus himself used a mail in ballot, yet he wants to remove that right from others. Fortunately, this week's hero blocked that ridiculous request to limit voting.

  

Judge again bars Trump administration from implementing order that sought to limit mail voting

AP News, August 11, 2026

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a federal voter list and directly involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani had already halted the order Trump signed in March, his second one attempting to set national election rules. On June 25, she sided with Democratic state attorneys general in granting summary judgment, preventing the core parts of Trump’s order from taking effect.

Tuesday’s ruling creates another legal hurdle for the Trump administration to overcome should it get the initial injunction lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“That it is now less than 90 days before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections underscores the critical need for an injunction to prevent Defendants from changing election rules on the eve of the election,” she wrote.

The Trump administration in late July requested that the Supreme Court halt lower court decisions that have blocked the sweeping changes in nearly half the country.

In the latest lawsuit, Talwani, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, sided with the League of Women Voters and other voting rights groups.

Her ruling granting a preliminary injunction barred the Postal Service from taking any steps to implement the order for this year’s midterm elections. She said the administration has so far declined to defend the constitutionality of the executive order.