Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public statement pushing back against President Donald Trump’s calls to impeach a federal judge who recently blocked deportation flights of suspected Venezuelan gang members.
Roberts emphasized that impeachment is “not an appropriate response” to judicial decisions, reinforcing the importance of judicial independence. His comments came after Trump lashed out at the judge on social media, calling him an “agitator” and demanding his removal from the bench.
In his statement, Roberts reiterated that impeachment has long been understood as a measure for serious misconduct, not a tool to punish judges for rulings that some may disagree with. He stressed that the proper course for challenging judicial decisions is through the appellate review process.
The case at the center of the controversy involves the Biden administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify the deportation of certain Venezuelan migrants. A federal district judge ruled against the deportations, prompting Trump’s outrage.
Trump’s argument hinges on the idea that unelected judges should not unilaterally thwart policies—like the Biden administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act—aimed at protecting public safety, especially when dealing with migrants potentially linked to criminal activity. From this perspective, the judge’s ruling could be viewed as an activist decision that undermines the executive branch’s constitutional prerogative to enforce immigration law and secure the border, a core issue for Trump’s base.
Trump’s allies might argue that impeachment is a legitimate constitutional tool (Article I, Section 2 and 3) to hold judges accountable when their rulings prioritize ideology over the public good, particularly in cases with immediate real-world consequences.
While Roberts defends judicial independence, Trump’s position suggests that independence shouldn’t shield judges from scrutiny when their decisions arguably jeopardize national interests.