In a rare public rebuke, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Tuesday condemned President Donald J. Trump’s call to impeach a federal judge who recently ruled against the administration’s efforts to expand deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The controversy erupted after U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order blocking the removal of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants whom the administration claimed were members of criminal organizations. The ruling, seen as a direct challenge to Trump’s immigration policies, prompted the president to launch a blistering attack on the judge via social media.
“Another radical left lunatic blocking what the American people want—law and order!” Mr. Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform. “This so-called judge needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY. Impeachment is the only answer!”
The comments drew immediate backlash from legal scholars and lawmakers, but it was Chief Justice Roberts’ intervention that underscored the gravity of the situation. In a statement released by the Supreme Court, Roberts emphasized the importance of judicial independence, warning that impeachment should not be used as a tool for political retaliation.
Roberts Defends Judicial Independence
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts wrote. “Our system relies on an independent judiciary, free from political influence, to interpret the law. If the executive branch disagrees with a ruling, the proper course of action is through appellate review, not threats of removal.”
The chief justice’s comments highlight the increasing tension between the White House and the judiciary, a conflict that has defined much of Mr. Trump’s second term. Since returning to office, the president has aggressively pushed policies aimed at restricting immigration and expediting deportations, often clashing with courts that have intervened to halt or modify those efforts.
Judge Boasberg, an Obama appointee, argued in his ruling that the administration’s deportation order lacked sufficient legal justification and risked violating the rights of those affected. The ruling was immediately appealed by the Justice Department, but Mr. Trump’s response indicated little patience for the legal process.
“This is judicial tyranny, plain and simple,” Mr. Trump said in a follow-up statement. “The American people are sick of activist judges undermining our laws. If Congress won’t act, I will.”
