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The Department of Justice has officially filed a misconduct complaint against US District Judge James Boasberg amid ongoing legal battles with the Trump administration.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Judge James Boasberg is the Chief US District Judge for the District of Columbia and was appointed to the US District Court by President Barack Obama in 2010. Over the years, he has overseen some high-profile cases involving the Trump administration, including challenges to Trump-era immigration policies and executive actions. Most notably, Boasberg presided over the Alien Enemies Act deportation case, in which he issued an emergency order halting deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, accusing the administration of potentially defying court orders (a move that prompted accusations of judicial overreach from Trump officials). He also threatened contempt proceedings against the Department of Justice for allegedly ignoring his emergency rulings.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, the DOJ moved forward with a formal misconduct complaint against Judge Boasberg, alleging that he made improper and prejudicial remarks about the Trump administration during a closed-door session of the Judicial Conference back in March. The complaint, filed at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi and signed by her Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle, accuses Boasberg of violating judicial ethics by stating to Chief Justice John Roberts and roughly two dozen federal judges that the Trump administration would likely “disregard rulings of federal courts” and could trigger “a constitutional crisis.”
These comments, the DOJ argues, not only strayed from the administrative purpose of the conference but also demonstrated preconceived bias that undermines the principle of judicial impartiality (especially given that Boasberg issued significant rulings against the administration just days later).
The DOJ also said that Boasberg’s statements amounted to “conduct prejudicial to the effective and expeditious administration of the business of the courts,” violating multiple canons in the Code of Conduct for US Judges. Mizelle highlighted in the complaint that the Trump administration had complied with all court orders and that Boasberg had no factual basis to suggest otherwise at the time of the conference.
As part of the requested remedies, the DOJ has asked Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to refer the complaint to a special investigative committee. The department is also seeking to have Boasberg removed from the ongoing deportation case (J.G.G. v. Trump) and calls for disciplinary measures, including a public reprimand and potential referral to the Judicial Conference for impeachment consideration if willful misconduct is found.
In a statement, AG Bondi said, “These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary, and we will not stand for that.”
