WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
In an atypical and strong public statement, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court John Roberts today rejected calls by President Donald Trump to impeach federal judges who rule against him, emphasizing the independence of the judiciary.
"For more than two centuries, it has been clear that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement with a judicial decision," Roberts said in a statement from the Supreme Court. "There is a common process for that, the appellate process."
Roberts' comments came just hours after Trump stepped up his attacks on the judiciary, specifically calling for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boazberg. The judge recently issued a temporary order blocking the deportation of Venezuelan citizens whom the Trump administration has linked to criminal gangs.
Trump's rhetoric has been supported by his allies, including Elon Musk, who have been calling for the removal of judges for weeks after the administration's string of legal defeats. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have begun to take action in line with Trump’s demands. Texas Congressman Brandon Gil announced on social media that he had filed a motion to impeach Boazberg, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
On his Truth Social network, Trump lashed out at Boazberg, writing: “This radical left-wing nutjob of a judge, a provocateur and agitator, unfortunately appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, was not elected President – HE DID NOT WIN A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTIONS (by a lot!), HE DID NOT WIN IN ALL SEVEN KEY STATES. … This judge, like the many corrupt judges I have to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!”
A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
History of clashes with the judiciary
Roberts, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by President George W. Bush, has long sought to maintain judicial independence, despite criticism from both the left and the right. Conservatives still resent him for a key 2012 vote in support of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), even though he has voted in their favor on other major issues, including guns, abortion, and affirmative action.
The Supreme Court currently has a conservative majority of 6-3, with three of the justices appointed by Trump. While the court has ruled in Trump’s favor on key issues, such as extending immunity from prosecution for former presidents, it has also issued emergency rulings against him since he returned to office.
Despite past tensions, Trump tried to win Roberts over earlier this month, thanking him during a joint address to Congress. “Thank you again. I’ll never forget that,” Trump was heard telling the chief justice on the House floor. He later claimed he had thanked Roberts for swearing him in at the inauguration.
Gabe Roth, executive director of the watchdog group Fix the Court, called Roberts’s statement “an important message,” but added, “It’s a bit hypocritical that this is coming from a man who, by granting Donald Trump near-total immunity in a landmark decision last year, helped create the current era of lawlessness.”
Impeachment threats and legal battle
The Boazberg controversy stemmed from the Trump administration’s attempt to invoke the 1798 Enemy Aliens Act to justify expedited deportations of Venezuelan citizens. The judge’s temporary order was not a final ruling, but allowed the court to hear arguments in the case.
The Justice Department has come under pressure over allegations that it ignored Boazberg’s decision by failing to prevent flights carrying deported Venezuelans. In an affidavit released Tuesday, immigration officials argued that the deportations were carried out under laws other than the Enemy Aliens Act.
Critics say Trump’s invocation of the centuries-old law is problematic, given that the United States is not formally at war. The courts, including the Supreme Court, are expected to ultimately decide the legality of the policy.
Roberts’s statement echoes his similar response in 2018, when Trump criticized a federal judge by calling him an “Obama judge” after he ruled against his asylum policy. At the time, Roberts clearly rejected the idea of biased judges.
“We don’t have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges,” Roberts said at the time. “What we do have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges who are trying to ensure equal rights for everyone who comes before them. We should all be grateful for that independence of the judiciary.”
The latest threats to impeach federal judges remain largely symbolic, given that their removal requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a threshold that is unlikely to be met. Still, Roberts' statement reflects his concern about increasing political attacks on the judiciary and the broader implications for the rule of law.
