A federal judge who is well past retirement age has blocked President Trump from requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

The judge was appointed by Ronald Reagan, making this the latest example of a senior conservative judge rebuffing Trump's attempts to defend American sovereignty by tightening rules surrounding immigration.

Trump's executive order

In March, Trump signed an executive order requiring a passport or other proof of citizenship to register to vote on the federal form.

Trump said the changes were needed to restore public confidence in the electoral system, but leftists sued to stop the new restrictions, claiming they would disenfranchise eligible Americans.

The groups that challenged the order include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), League of Women Voters Education Fund, League of Women Voters of the United States, League of Women Voters of Arizona, Hispanic Federation, NAACP, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Asian and Pacific Islander Vote.

Judge's ruling

On Sunday, the left was handed a victory from 82-year-old U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a Reagan appointee, who said Trump overstepped his authority.

"The Constitution’s allocation of authority over federal elections between Congress and the States may not be intuitive. But it is no accident. Instead, this design was the product of carefully considered compromises among our Constitution’s Framers," the judge wrote.

The decision is being hailed by left-wing groups as a victory for "our democracy."

“This executive order was an attempted overreach of power, bypassing the Constitution’s clear allocation of authority to Congress and the states to set election rules,” said the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter can register and vote free from expensive and unnecessary requirements.”

Reagan judges join the resistance

While it seems like common sense to require proof of citizenship to vote, common sense is unfortunately lacking in the federal court system.

For example, Trump's efforts to end the absurd practice of so-called birthright citizenship have been repeatedly blocked by judges across the political spectrum, who have upheld the idea that the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants are entitled to citizenship under the 14th Amendment.

A distinct role in the judicial resistance against Trump is being played by aging and often quite vocal Reagan-appointed judges.

“It has become ever more apparent that to our president the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals,” said U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, in a February order blocking Trump's birthright citizenship order.

Trump continues the fight

In September, another Reagan-appointed judge in his 80s, William Young, won praise from the left for a dotty, highly unusual opinion rebuking Trump that included a handwritten message.

Unfortunately, a number of conservative judges appear to think the Constitution is a suicide pact - but Trump isn't giving up on fighting for Americans and their sovereignty.

“President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to ensure only American citizens are casting ballots in American elections,” said Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson. “This is so commonsense that only the Democrat Party would file a lawsuit against it. We expect to be vindicated by a higher court.”