LIVE: Trump STUNNED as SCOTUS and Federal Judges SPEAK OUT
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Federal judges are experiencing an unprecedented surge in personal attacks, threats, and intimidation tactics, including swatting and pizza doxing.
- ❖Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly condemned these attacks, stating they are 'dangerous' and 'got to stop'.
- ❖A new ethics opinion (Rule 118) now allows federal judges to speak out publicly against illegitimate criticism and threats.
- ❖Judges emphasize that these threats are not about legal disagreements but are attempts to undermine the judiciary's independence and the rule of law.
- ❖The media's practice of labeling judges by their appointing president contributes to the politicization of the judiciary.
- ❖The legal community and general public are encouraged to educate themselves on the judiciary's role and actively speak up to defend its independence.
Insights
1Escalating Personal Attacks and Threats Against Judges
Federal judges are facing an unprecedented level of personal attacks, threats, and intimidation tactics. These include 'swatting' (falsely reporting a crime at a judge's home to trigger a SWAT response), 'pizza doxing' (ordering pizzas to a judge's home using a deceased family member's name as a threat), and explicit death threats via email and social media, often targeting their families and children.
Judge Beth Bloom introduces a clip detailing Judge John Couenower's swatting incident (). Judge Mark Norris recounts receiving pizzas at his home under a false name, and his law clerk being shot (, ). Judge Michelle Williams Court describes a threat knowing her children's school, leading to police patrols and an incident with arrests on her driveway (, ). Judge Anna Reyes reads explicit death threats received via email and social media, including calls to 'lynch judges' and 'axe her wife' (, ). Chief Judge Dolly Gee shares threats like 'I'll put a bullet in your head' ().
2Chief Justice Roberts and New Ethics Rule Empower Judges to Speak Out
Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly condemned the shift from legal criticism to personal hostility against judges, calling it 'dangerous' and stating it 'has got to stop.' Concurrently, the Federal Committee on Codes of Conduct issued Advisory Opinion Rule 118, a new ethics opinion allowing judges to speak out publicly against illegitimate forms of criticism, threats, and disinformation that undermine the rule of law.
Paul Kiesal quotes Chief Justice John Roberts' remarks on personal hostility being 'quite dangerous' and needing to 'stop' (). He also references the Federal Committee on Codes of Conduct's Advisory Opinion Rule 118, which permits judges to speak out against illegitimate criticism (). Judge Norris acknowledges the Chief Justice's statement and Rule 118 for 'freeing us up' to engage in public forums (, ).
3Politicization of the Judiciary by Media and Public Perception
Judges are increasingly labeled by the political affiliation of the president who appointed them, rather than their adherence to the law. This media practice, driven by 'clickbait' headlines, contributes to a public perception that judicial decisions are politically motivated, making judges vulnerable to partisan attacks and undermining trust in their impartiality.
Judge Norris discusses being labeled a 'Trump judge' despite leaving politics at the 'courthouse door' (, ). Judge Anna Reyes highlights how headlines consistently refer to judges as 'Biden appointee' or 'Trump appointee,' fostering the idea that judges are 'political beings' (, ). Judge Bloom agrees that 'clickbait' headlines contribute to this 'monster' of politicization ().
4The Extraordinary Has Become Ordinary: A Call to Action
What was once considered extraordinary — explicit death threats and personal attacks against judges — has become ordinary. Judges now routinely receive such threats for high-profile or even mid-profile opinions. This normalization necessitates a collective effort from the legal community and the public to educate, speak up, and defend the independence of the judiciary.
Judge Reyes states, 'what's most problematic is that the extraordinary has become ordinary. Every judge who issues a high-profile opinion... gets emails and threats like this constantly.' (). Judge Norris notes, 'it's become normalized in many respects' (). Judge Gee emphasizes that 'every citizen should be speaking up about civics at this time' ().
Lessons
- Educate yourself and others on the actual role of the judiciary and how decisions are made, countering misinformation about judges being political.
- Speak up in conversations with family and friends when judges are falsely portrayed as political or disloyal, politely correcting misunderstandings about the system.
- Encourage local bar associations and legal organizations to issue public statements condemning personal attacks on the judiciary and to educate their members.
- Participate in civics education efforts, whether through community groups, schools, or events like the national Law Day of Action, to promote understanding of the rule of law.
- Support initiatives like 'Speak Up for Justice' and the Federal Judges Association's Judicial Independence Committee, which actively defend judges and educate the public.
Quotes
"The problem sometimes is that the criticism can move from a focus on legal analysis to personalities and you see from all over... that it's more directed in a personal way and that frankly can be actually quite dangerous... Personally directed hostility is dangerous and it's got to stop."
"I hope you lose your life by lunchtime, you worthless... God damn you this day to an open and embarrassing grave, you filthy... You don't want to keep my family safe. God damn you. I hope you all die today. I hope you die today. Enjoy choking on your tongue, you filthy four-legged beast."
"The best way you can help America is to eat a bullet. I pray you do the right thing, because I will go to church and thank their God. And you and all the other pieces of Democrat judges, like I said, save America and bite down on that slug."
"Judicial independence is not conferred so that judges can do as they please. It's conferred so that judges do as they must."
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