Lawyer Neal Katyal's win against Trump tariffs traces back to his Punjabi roots

In a legal showdown that felt more like a chess match with the fate of the global economy at stake, Indian-American attorney Neal Katyal has achieved what few can claim. He humbled a sitting US President in the nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling striking down President Trump’s sweeping tariffs was a “total victory” for Katyal, who represented small businesses—like an Illinois toymaker—against the weight of the White House.

But as the dust settles, the conversation has moved from the cold marble of the courtroom to the warmer, more personal reflections of the man himself.

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Ruling by the rules

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Katyal said that in a democracy, no one man holds the “blank check” to tax the people. Speaking after the verdict, he emphasised that the case wasn’t about the politics of tariffs, but about the process of law. “Presidents are powerful,” he remarked, “but our Constitution is more powerful still.”

The victory was especially sweet because it wasn’t just a narrow win; two of Trump’s own appointees voted against the administration. For Katyal, it was a reaffirmation that even in a polarized world, the “rule of law” can still hold a steady line.

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The heart of the matter: His Punjabi roots

The most poignant part however, wasn’t about legal statutes or executive orders. It was the moment the “best litigator in the world” paused to talk about his heritage.

Katyal was born in Chicago to Indian immigrants—his mother a doctor and his father an engineer—who arrived from Punjab just a year before his birth. When asked how his Punjabi roots influenced this high-stakes battle, Katyal spoke of a legacy of “grit and fearlessness.” He often credits the immigrant experience—specifically the “Punjabi spirit” of hard work and resilience—as the engine behind his career.

He views his legal career as a way of honouring the sacrifices his parents made when they left Punjab to build a life in America. For him, “colouring within the lines” isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a value system rooted in the integrity and discipline.