Trump administration escalates attacks on judges
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The Trump administration on Thursday stepped up its attacks on judges whose rulings have hindered the president's agenda, in an escalating battle with the courts.
The big picture: The administration has been trying to exert the power of the executive over the judiciary — defying court orders, labeling judges as activists and as "rogue" or "deranged," and attempting to appoint loyalists to key seats.
Driving the news: Stephen Miller, Trump's top policy adviser, shared a post Thursday with images and biographies of three judges who ruled that the president doesn't have the authority to impose sweeping global tariffs.
- "We are living under a judicial tyranny," Miller wrote in the post on the judges, who were appointed by Reagan, Obama and Trump.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said that ruling was marred by "judicial overreach," alleging the three judges "brazenly abused their judicial power."
- She said there's "a troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision making process," adding that presidents can't have "their sensitive diplomatic or trade negotiations railroaded by activist judges."
State of play: Federal district judges have issued injunctions and restraining orders to halt a number of the administration's sweeping federal actions.
- "President Trump had more injunctions in one full month of office in February than Joe Biden had in three years," Leavitt noted Thursday.
- At the same time, the Trump administration has defied court orders, particularly on immigration.
Zoom in: Trump and House Republicans have called for the impeachment of at least one judge.
- Close Trump advisor Elon Musk has also suggested impeaching judges.
- Meanwhile, the FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge last month on charges of helping an undocumented immigrant defendant avoid arrest. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan has pleaded not guilty in the case.
- The administration has also targeted law firms that have employed or represented people he regards as critics. Federal judges have so far blocked the administration from sanctioning three law firms that Trump named in executive orders and a fourth case is awaiting a ruling.
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