US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has issued a rare public statement pushing back against President Donald Trump’s call to impeach a federal judge who ruled against his administration on migrant deportations.
“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said, emphasizing that the “normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”
Trump had earlier lashed out at US District Judge James Boasberg, calling him a “troublemaker and agitator” after the judge ruled against his administration’s efforts to deport accused gang members to El Salvador under an obscure 18th-century law. The ruling effectively halted deportations tied to the policy, dealing a legal blow to the president’s immigration agenda.
The chief justice’s response underscores long-standing judicial principles that protect judges from political retaliation over their rulings. While tensions between the executive and judiciary are not uncommon, direct calls for impeachment over legal disagreements are rare and have drawn criticism from legal experts.
The White House has not yet responded to Roberts’ statement, but Trump’s criticism of the judiciary has been a recurring theme throughout his presidency, particularly when courts have ruled against his policies on immigration and executive authority.
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