Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly defended federal judges who have ruled against the Trump administration, emphasizing that impeachment should not be used as a response to disagreements over judicial decisions. In a statement released by the Supreme Court's public information office, Roberts highlighted that for over 200 years, the appropriate way to address disagreements with court decisions is through the appellate review process.
This statement follows President Trump's criticism of federal district judge James Boasberg, whom Trump called to be impeached after Boasberg temporarily halted the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to detain and deport noncitizens. Boasberg had ordered planes carrying 261 individuals back to the U.S. after the administration claimed some passengers had ties to a Venezuelan gang. Despite the order, two planes landed in El Salvador, leading to accusations that the administration ignored the court's directive.
President Trump expressed his discontent on social media, labeling Boasberg as a "Radical Left Lunatic" and suggesting that he and other judges should be impeached. This marks an escalation in Trump's ongoing criticism of judges who have challenged his policies, with some of his allies also calling for impeachment. The Justice Department has appealed several rulings and sought emergency interventions from the Supreme Court.
Federal judges hold lifetime appointments and can only be removed through impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate, a rare occurrence in U.S. history. Elon Musk, a senior adviser to Trump, has also called for the impeachment of judges, accusing them of undermining democracy.
Some Republican lawmakers have introduced impeachment resolutions against judges whose rulings they oppose. In response, judges appointed by Republicans have warned that such attacks threaten judicial independence. They emphasize that the judiciary must remain independent for the government to function effectively.
Roberts has previously spoken about the importance of judicial independence, noting threats such as violence, intimidation, and disinformation. As the head of the Judicial Conference, Roberts rarely makes such statements, but he has previously countered Trump's remarks, asserting that judges are dedicated to fairness, regardless of who appointed them.