Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public statement Tuesday rejecting calls by President Donald Trump to impeach a federal judge who ruled against the administration in a high-profile deportation case involving Venezuelan migrants. Roberts emphasized that impeachment is not a proper mechanism for expressing disagreement with judicial decisions, marking another notable clash between the chief justice and the president.
"For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose," Roberts stated, according to multiple reports.
The statement follows Trump's post on Tuesday demanding the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the administration's deportation flights returning Venezuelan migrants. Trump posted, "This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges' I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!"
The administration claimed it disregarded Boasberg's order because the flights had already left U.S. jurisdiction at the time the decision was issued.
Roberts' comments underscore heightened tensions between the judiciary and the Trump administration, which has faced a series of legal setbacks since implementing a new wave of aggressive policies following Trump's return to office in January. Several federal judges have issued rulings halting portions of the administration's agenda, prompting calls from Trump allies for judicial impeachments.
These attacks on the judiciary have triggered concerns among federal judges about security risks. Last week, judges urged public officials to exercise caution when criticizing court rulings, highlighting the potential for escalating threats against members of the bench.
This is not the first time Roberts has pushed back against Trump's rhetoric. In 2018, Roberts publicly responded after Trump criticized an "Obama judge" who ruled against his policies, stating, "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them."
