Chief Justice John Roberts took yet another thinly veiled swipe at President Trump on Wednesday night, marking the second time in just a few months that the supposed “nonpartisan” head of the Supreme Court has publicly rebuked the commander-in-chief—and over the same issue: Trump’s calls to hold rogue judges accountable.
Speaking at a fireside chat in Buffalo, New York, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Roberts warned against Trump’s recent push to impeach federal judges who’ve undermined the administration’s immigration agenda. And naturally, he cloaked his criticism in lofty talk of “judicial independence.”
“Well, I’ve already spoken to that and, you know, impeachment is not how you register disagreement with decisions,” Roberts told a room full of judges and lawyers. “That’s what we’re there for.”
Sure, John—“there for” what exactly? Striking down executive orders that enforce immigration law? Blocking deportations of violent criminals? Granting rights to illegal aliens that aren’t even extended to U.S. citizens? Because that’s what some of these activist judges have been up to.
Roberts continued his condescending sermon: “The judiciary is a co-equal branch of government…with the authority to interpret the Constitution…and check the excesses of Congress or of the executive. That does require a degree of independence.”
What Roberts and his Ivy League buddies always conveniently forget is that judicial independence is not the same as judicial supremacy. The Constitution doesn’t give unelected judges unlimited power to dictate national policy from the bench. And when judges step out of line—especially those who obstruct the enforcement of law and endanger American citizens—it is entirely appropriate to demand consequences.
President Trump has been clear. When a judge like James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, forces ICE to reverse deportation flights of violent criminal aliens, he’s not “checking executive power”—he’s abusing judicial authority to undermine national security. Trump called Boasberg a “radical left lunatic” and said plainly: he should be impeached.
Trump isn’t attacking the judiciary; he’s attacking corruption within the judiciary. There’s a difference, even if Roberts pretends not to see it.
So here we are again: Roberts on his high horse, issuing polite scoldings while the American people demand a judiciary that actually serves them—not the open-borders lobby or the D.C. cocktail circuit.
If Roberts wants to preserve “judicial independence,” maybe he should start by making sure judges don’t act like partisan activists. Until then, the American people—and their president—have every right to demand accountability.