The Federal Judges Association, a voluntary organization of federal judges, issued a statement on Wednesday condeming the recent attacks and threats against the federal judiciary on social media and elsewhere.
Many recent attacks have been fueled by judicial determinations that certain Trump Administration policies either violate federal law, or should be enjoined from going into effect until their legality can be determined. Such actions, commonplace in the courts for centuries, have incurred the wrath of Elon Musk and others. They have called for the impeachment (or worse) of many extremely respected judges — calls that are foolish at best, and verging on politically obscene.
The FJA’s statement sets out what any decent high school civics class should teach:
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….
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. 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.
Yes.
The Interdependent Third Branch 