Texas Judge Jokes National Ruling Limits ‘Freed Up’ Bench’s Time

A Texas federal judge whose court has emerged as a magnet for conservative litigants joked that a recent Supreme Court ruling against nationwide rulings has “freed up time” for him and his colleagues.

Judge Brantley Starr of the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas, who spoke Monday at a Federalist Society panel in Washington, made the remarks days after the Supreme Court limited the ability of federal judges to block policies nationwide. Another judge on his court, Judge Reed O’Connor, was also scheduled to speak at the event.

“You may be wondering why two Northern District judges ...