Federal Judges Association Condemns Recent Threats Against the Judiciary

The Federal Judges Association on Wednesday issued a statement condemning current threats against the judiciary, as Republican lawmakers and Elon Musk have called for the impeachment of judges who temporarily halted Trump administration policies.

“Recent events are a clear and urgent reminder that federal judges play a crucial role in upholding our democracy as guardians of the rule of law,” stated the FJA, a voluntary association of federal judges with more than 1,100 members.

The FJA did not point to specific threats in its statement, but Musk and other GOP officials in recent weeks have accused judges who ruled against the government of having political biases and being “corrupt” and “radical.”

In its statement, the FJA emphasized federal judges’ role under the Constitution to interpret laws and said that “specific decisions issued by judges are not formed from individual opinions but rather are prepared against evaluation of what the ‘laws on the books’ require.”

“We appreciate and commend those, including Chief Justice [John] Roberts [Jr.], who have commented recently on the rise in criticism, threats and violence aimed at members of the judiciary,” the FJA stated.

“Irresponsible rhetoric shrouded in disinformation undermines the public’s confidence that our justice system can fulfill its constitutional duties,” the FJA added. “The security of federal judges and all those serving in the judicial branch of our government is fundamental to their ability to uphold the rule of law, and to fulfill their constitutional duty without fear or undue influence. Any erosion in the independence of the judiciary is a threat to our Constitution and to democratic rule of law.”

Republican lawmakers filed formal impeachment resolutions against U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York, who temporarily cut off the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to Treasury payment systems, as well as Judges Amir Ali and John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Reuters published a report Wednesday, based on interviews with federal judges speaking anonymously, that the U.S. Marshals Service has informed several judges of a heightened threat environment over the past few weeks.

Stated the FJA: “Ensuring judicial security is not just about protecting individuals, it is about preserving the integrity of our legal system and the public’s trust in an impartial judiciary. Judges must be permitted to do their jobs without fear of violence or intimidation of any kind.”