President Donald Trump has called for the impeachment of a federal judge following a ruling that halted his deportation flights. This move has drawn a public response from Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court.
The conflict between the executive and judicial branches revolves around U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s decision to stop the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens temporarily.
Chief Justice Roberts commented that impeachment is not the appropriate course of action for disagreements with judicial decisions, a principle that has been respected for over 200 years. He pointed out that appellate review is the correct process for such disputes.
The issue arose when Judge Boasberg issued an oral order from the bench, requiring planes carrying 261 individuals, who were en route to Central America, to return to the United States. The Trump administration claimed that 137 of these individuals had connections to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and were deported under the Alien Enemies Act. Two planes landed in El Salvador, defying Judge Boasberg’s order to return to the United States, leading to accusations of defying a court ruling.
Trump reacted by criticizing Judge Boasberg on his Truth Social platform, saying, “This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President – He didn’t WIN the popular VOTE (by a lot!), he didn’t WIN ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, he didn’t WIN 2,750 to 525 Counties, HE DIDN’T WIN ANYTHING!” Trump wrote in his post.
The president further stated that Boasberg “and many of the ‘Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before should be IMPEACHED!!!”
President Trump’s actions against Judge Boasberg are part of a pattern of criticism against federal judges who have challenged his administration’s policies. These judges have blocked some administration actions, drawing ire from the president’s supporters and calls for impeachment.
The Justice Department has appealed several rulings and sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court in three legal battles so far. The administration contends that Boasberg’s ruling is invalid because the deportations occurred over international waters, beyond the judge’s jurisdiction.
Republican Representative Brandon Gill of Texas introduced articles of impeachment against Boasberg, with five other GOP lawmakers co-sponsoring the bill. However, House GOP leaders have not indicated whether they will hold a vote on the impeachment articles.
Federal judges in the U.S. hold lifetime appointments and can only be removed through impeachment by the House of Representatives and a subsequent conviction by the Senate. Throughout U.S. history, only 15 judges have faced impeachment, with the last case occurring in 2010. Of these, eight were convicted and removed, primarily for serious crimes or ethical violations.
Elon Musk, a senior adviser to President Trump, has repeatedly called for judges to be impeached on social media, labeling them as “evil.” Last month, on X, Musk claimed that “radical left activists posing as judges” were attempting to undermine American democracy. He further argued that judges issuing “truly terrible decisions” should face “some repercussions above zero.”
This is not the first instance of Justice Roberts countering Trump’s critique of the judiciary. In 2018, after Trump criticized a federal judge who ruled against an asylum policy during his first term, referring to him as an “Obama judge,” Roberts issued a statement defending the independence of the judiciary.
Chief Justice Roberts emphasized that the judiciary consists of dedicated judges committed to delivering equal justice, not judges identified solely by the president who appointed them.
In response to recent criticisms of the judiciary, two judges appointed by Republicans warned last week that such actions threaten judicial independence.
Judge Richard Sullivan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, speaking during a Judicial Conference call, stressed the importance of three independent branches of government and an autonomous judiciary, stating, “That’s what makes it work, and so it’s crucial that people understand that.”
Sixth Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton highlighted the ongoing issue of threats against judges, noting that such threats undermine judicial independence. He cautioned that weakening impeachment standards would harm not only the judiciary but all three branches of government.
Roberts has previously discussed the importance of judicial independence, including in his year-end report for 2024. He identified four threats to judicial independence: violence, intimidation, disinformation, and threats to ignore legally issued judgments.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about the likelihood of any impeachment similar to what Trump envisions succeeding, given constitutional requirements and historical precedents. The courts maintain the authority to hold the administration accountable, such as by holding government officials in contempt of court if they defy judicial orders.