The Department of Justice loosened qualification requirements to allow ‘any lawyer’—including approximately 600 military Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers—to serve as immigration judges, bypassing the traditional judicial independence standards and specialized training required for …
Department of JusticeTrumpMilitaryinstitutional-capturejudicial-independenceimmigration-policymilitarizationdue-process
On August 20, 2025, the United States imposed targeted sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, escalating an ongoing campaign to obstruct international judicial proceedings into potential war crimes.
Key Details:
Four officials sanctioned: Two judges (Kimberly Prost and …
Kimberly ProstNicolas GuillouNazhat Shameem KhanMame Mandiaye NiangMarco Rubio+2 moreicc-sanctionsinternational-lawjudicial-independencerule-of-lawneutralize-referees+6 more
In June 2025, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Judicial Independence, Margaret Satterthwaite, released a groundbreaking report documenting systematic attacks on the U.S. federal judiciary. The report detailed executive branch efforts to intimidate judges, including public denigration, …
Margaret SatterthwaiteUN Special RapporteurSupreme Court JusticesSen. Cory BookerDepartment of Justice+1 morejudicial-independenceconstitutional-crisisintimidationseparation-of-powersinternational-human-rights+1 more
DC Bar delivered historic rebuke as 38,600 members (43% turnout, up from 9% last year) rejected Trump allies. Diane Seltzer defeated AG Pam Bondi’s brother Bradley 35,000 to 3,500 (91% margin). Amanda Molina defeated DOJ’s Alicia Long 75% to 25% for treasurer. Triple previous 1990 voting …
DC Bar AssociationBradley Bondi (Paul Hastings, brother of AG Pam Bondi)Diane Seltzer (employment attorney, winner)Alicia Long (DOJ attorney)Amanda Molina (Microsoft attorney, winner)+1 moreprofessional-resistancejudicial-independencedemocratic-institutionslegal-profession
The Trump administration initiated unprecedented legal actions challenging judicial independence, including multiple court orders blocking administrative actions and mounting tensions between the executive and judicial branches. Multiple federal courts issued restraining orders against sweeping …
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a critical hearing investigating unprecedented threats to judicial independence in 2025, documenting rising levels of violence, intimidation, disinformation, and defiance of lawful court judgments. Testimony revealed a disturbing pattern of physical threats, …
The Trump administration initiated unprecedented moves to remove federal judges deemed obstructionist, invoking rarely used judicial review procedures. Multiple federal circuit courts issued emergency injunctions, creating a complex legal standoff that threatened judicial independence and separation …
Trump AdministrationFederal JudiciaryDepartment of JusticeWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavittjudicial-independenceconstitutional-crisisexecutive-overreachfederal-judiciaryseparation-of-powers
In an unprecedented response to mounting threats and potential constitutional crisis, federal judges convened emergency discussions in March 2025 to address challenges to judicial independence. The Judicial Conference, the national policymaking body for federal courts, held closed-door meetings …
Federal Judiciary LeadershipJudge Richard SullivanU.S. Marshals ServiceJudicial Conference LeadershipFederal District Court Judges+1 morejudicial-independenceconstitutional-crisisjudicial-securityseparation-of-powersthreat-management
Chief Justice John Roberts led a critical federal judicial conference highlighting unprecedented challenges to judicial independence. Roberts warned about four major threats: escalating violence against judges, intimidation tactics, disinformation spread through social media, and potential political …
Chief Justice John RobertsChief Judge James BoasbergFederal JudiciarySupreme CourtU.S. Marshals Servicejudicial-independenceconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powersjudicial-securityrule-of-law
Trump administration launched systematic executive orders targeting law firms, mass firings of prosecutors, and open defiance of court rulings, creating what legal scholars describe as unprecedented constitutional crisis.
Donald Trump launched racist attacks against U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was presiding over the Trump University fraud lawsuits, falsely claiming the judge’s Mexican heritage created bias against him. At a San Diego rally in late May and in subsequent media interviews, Trump …
Donald TrumpGonzalo CurielPaul RyanTrump UniversityRacismJudicial IndependenceWitness IntimidationPaul Ryan+1 more
President Obama directly criticizes Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision during State of the Union Address, with Justice Samuel Alito visibly shaking his head and mouthing ’not true’ in unprecedented breach of judicial protocol
Barack ObamaSamuel AlitoJohn RobertsRuth Bader GinsburgStephen Breyer+2 moreconstitutional-crisisseparation-of-powersjudicial-independencecampaign-financepresidential-criticism+2 more