Trump's Personal Attacks on Federal Judges Draw Scrutiny as Courts Rule Against Administration

by Ken MacVey It has become harder to be a judge, especially when it comes to politically controversial cases handled by federal judges. President Trump, his cabinet members, and White House spokespersons have relentlessly shot off barrages of nasty, personal attacks on judges for making decisions Trump disapproves. One stand – out is Trump’s comment that Supreme Court justices who ruled against his tariff program are “an embarrassment to their families.” He has called judges “rogues,” “criminals,” “unpatriotic,” “lapdogs,” “crooked,” and “radical left lunatics.” These comments cannot be dismissed as hyperbolic rhetoric any more than Trump’s invitation to his supporters to come to Washington DC on January 6, 2021 (“it will be wild”) can be dismissed as friendly “chit chat.” Death threats against judges have increased astronomically. Judges are being “doxxed.” Last month, Chief Justice Roberts in an interview declared it is fair game to criticize judge’s decisions but not fair game to go after a judge with personal attacks.