BUFFALO, NY — In a rare and pointed public appearance Wednesday evening, Chief Justice John Roberts took another public swipe at President Donald Trump, defending the judiciary from what he characterized as attacks on its independence—just weeks after Trump renewed his call for the impeachment of activist judges, including Judge James Boasberg.
Speaking at an event marking the 125th anniversary of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Roberts delivered a carefully worded but unmistakable rebuke of Trump’s rhetoric, particularly his demand to remove judges who block immigration enforcement.
“Impeachment is not how you register disagreement with decisions,” Roberts said in front of a room filled with federal judges and legal elites.
Roberts Defends Judicial Power as “Co-Equal Branch”
Roberts, in his remarks, emphasized the “co-equal” status of the judiciary and its constitutional authority to strike down acts of Congress and the executive branch. He claimed the system cannot function if the judiciary is not “independent.”
“The judiciary is a co-equal branch of government, separate from the others… That innovation doesn’t work if the judiciary is not independent.”
Trump Responds with Fury Over Judge Boasberg
Earlier this year, President Trump blasted Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, after he blocked Trump’s immigration order and forced deportation planes carrying criminal Venezuelan aliens to turn back.
“This Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge… should be IMPEACHED!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, citing the judge’s role in undermining his administration’s core immigration policies.
Trump added that these unelected judges “are doing the opposite of what the American people voted for,” claiming his immigration stance was a driving force behind his historic election victories.
Roberts vs. Trump: The Long Cold War Heats Up
This is not the first time Roberts has publicly pushed back on Trump. Earlier this year, Roberts issued a rare statement asserting that “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision”, suggesting Trump’s criticism threatens judicial norms.
This is a continuation of a long-simmering conflict between Trump and the federal judiciary, particularly with judges appointed by Democratic presidents who have routinely blocked Trump’s executive orders.
Critics: Roberts Defending the Unaccountable
Conservative critics blasted Roberts’ remarks, accusing him of shielding rogue judges who legislate from the bench. They argue that judicial independence has morphed into judicial supremacy, where activist judges obstruct the will of the people without consequence.
“Roberts isn’t defending judicial independence—he’s defending unaccountable power,” one legal analyst noted. “When judges protect foreign criminals and block elected leaders, impeachment is a constitutional remedy.”
The Bottom Line
With tensions rising over immigration, executive authority, and judicial activism, Chief Justice Roberts has once again taken a public stand—against the president who may soon appoint more federal judges.
But in the eyes of many Americans, Roberts’ allegiance to an unchecked judiciary may prove to be as controversial as the decisions he seeks to defend.
