'Designed to intimidate': Supreme Court justice publicly slams Trump’s attacks on judges
President Donald Trump signs executive orders alongside Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and wounded warriors in the Oval Office, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
One sitting Supreme Court associate justice is now publicly coming out against President Donald Trump's attacks on the federal judiciary — without mentioning the president by name.
Politico reported Thursday that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, addressed "the elephant in the room" during a judges' conference in Puerto Rico. She said that threats to impeach Article III judges solely because they issued rulings that conflict with a president's wishes is a direct threat to the American system of government.
“The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate,” Jackson said. “The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.”
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The liberal jurist received a standing ovation for her remarks, in which she urged her colleagues to have "raw courage" when carrying out their duties. Politico reported that Jackson spoke about the attacks on judges for roughly 18 minutes.
"I urge you to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country, and I do believe that history will vindicate your service," she said.
Trump and his supporters have specifically called for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered deportation flights carrying 238 Venezuelan immigrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to be turned around until the issue could be fully litigated. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) even submitted articles of impeachment against Boasberg to the House Judiciary Committee. Chief Justice John Roberts (who was appointed by former President George W. Bush) spoke out against the impeachment threat, though like Jackson on Thursday, did not specifically mention Trump's name.
"For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision," Roberts wrote. "The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."
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Click here to read Politico's full article.
