Honestly, trying to keep track of the legal drama surrounding Donald Trump feels like trying to count raindrops in a hurricane. You’ve probably seen the headlines. One day it’s a "historic conviction," the next it's a "dismissal," and then suddenly he’s back in the White House and the rules of the game have completely shifted.
So, let's get into it. How many lawsuits against Trump are actually still a thing now that we’re in 2026?
The short answer? It’s a lot fewer than it was a couple of years ago, but the "how" and "why" behind those numbers are where things get weird. Basically, the moment Trump won the 2024 election, the legal landscape didn't just change—it basically imploded. Federal cases hit a brick wall, state cases got tangled in immunity claims, and civil suits turned into a high-stakes game of "appeal until the clock runs out."
The Federal "Vanish" Act: Jack Smith and the DOJ
Remember Jack Smith? The Special Counsel who was the face of the federal prosecutions? He’s basically out of the picture now.
Once Trump was sworn back in for his second term, the Department of Justice (DOJ) followed its long-standing policy: you can’t prosecute a sitting president. It doesn’t matter if the evidence is "beyond a reasonable doubt" or just a hunch; the DOJ isn't going to go after the boss.
- The Classified Documents Case: This was the big one in Florida. Judge Aileen Cannon had already dismissed it in mid-2024, arguing Smith’s appointment was unconstitutional. While there was a lot of noise about appeals, the case effectively died the moment the new administration took over.
- The Jan. 6 Federal Case: This was the one in D.C. dealing with election interference. Same story here. Jack Smith eventually moved to dismiss the charges before Trump even took the oath, acknowledging the "sitting president" reality.
In early 2026, Jack Smith actually testified before the House Judiciary Committee. It was pretty dramatic. He told lawmakers his team had proof, but the law—specifically the DOJ's internal rules—didn't allow them to move forward once Trump became the "incumbent" again.
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State Cases: Georgia and the New York "Hush Money" Twist
If the federal cases were a clean break, the state cases have been more of a messy breakup.
The Manhattan "Hush Money" Conviction
You might remember Trump was actually convicted on 34 felony counts in New York back in 2024. People thought he might go to jail.
That didn't happen.
In January 2025, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge. Basically, the conviction stays on his record, but there’s no jail time, no probation, and no fine. But even that isn't the end. As of January 2026, a federal appeals court has ordered a fresh review of that case. The argument? That the "hush money" trial shouldn't have included evidence from Trump’s first term because of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity.
The Georgia "Rico" Case
This one basically collapsed. Remember Fani Willis? The case became more about her personal life than the alleged election interference. By early 2026, the charges against Trump and most of his allies were dismissed.
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In fact, there's a wild twist: some of the defendants in that case are now suing Fulton County to get $16 million in attorney fees back. Trump himself is asking for over $6 million. It’s a total 180.
The Civil Suits: E. Jean Carroll and the Fraud Fines
This is where the money is, and where Trump is still feeling the heat—sorta.
The two big names here are E. Jean Carroll and Letitia James.
- E. Jean Carroll: She won two massive judgments totaling over $88 million for sexual abuse and defamation. Trump is still fighting these in the Supreme Court. Carroll’s lawyers just filed a brief on January 16, 2026, asking the justices to stop dragging their feet and let her collect.
- The New York Civil Fraud Case: Remember that $464 million penalty? Well, an appeals court actually vacated the fine in late 2025, though they kept the finding that he committed fraud. Now, both Trump and the NY Attorney General are appealing to the state’s highest court.
The New Wave: Lawsuits Against the Administration
While the old criminal cases are fading, a brand new category has popped up: lawsuits against the Trump administration's current policies.
State Attorneys General (mostly from "Blue" states like New York and California) are filing suits faster than you can keep up. They’re suing over:
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- Attempts to fire independent agency heads (like the Fed’s Lisa Cook).
- Environmental rollbacks.
- Withholding federal funds from states that don't cooperate with immigration policies.
Basically, we’ve traded "lawsuits about Trump's past" for "lawsuits about Trump's present."
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Drama
If you're trying to stay informed without losing your mind, here’s how to filter the noise:
- Distinguish between Trump "The Person" and Trump "The Office": Most criminal cases against him as a person are paused or dead. The new lawsuits are mostly constitutional battles over what a President is allowed to do.
- Watch the Supreme Court Docket: That’s where the E. Jean Carroll and "immunity" leftovers are living. Decisions there will decide if he ever has to pay those millions.
- Follow SCOTUSblog or Lawfare: These sites track the actual filings, which are way more reliable than cable news pundits.
The number of lawsuits isn't a static "4" or "91" anymore. It's a shifting list of appeals and new policy challenges. The legal "wall" around the presidency is stronger than many people realized, and we're seeing that play out in real-time.
Stay tuned to the appeals courts—specifically the Second Circuit and the D.C. Circuit—as those are the primary battlegrounds for the remainder of 2026.