Latest news with #Boasberg
Los Angeles Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Justice Department files misconduct complaint against federal judge handling deportation case
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Monday filed a misconduct complaint against the federal judge who has clashed with President Trump's administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Escalating the administration's conflict with U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi said on social media that she directed the filing of the complaint against Boasberg 'for making improper public comments about President Trump and his administration.' The complaint stems from remarks Boasberg allegedly made in March to Chief Justice John Roberts and other federal judges saying the administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by the Associated Press. The comments 'have undermined the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,' the complaint says, adding that the administration has 'always complied with all court orders.' Boasberg is among several judges who have questioned whether the administration has complied with their orders. The meeting took place days before Boasberg issued an order blocking deportation flights that Trump was carrying out by invoking wartime authorities from an 18th century law. The judge's verbal order to turn around planes that were on the way to El Salvador was ignored. Boasberg has since found probable cause that the administration committed contempt of court. The comments were supposedly made during a meeting of the Judicial Conference, the federal judiciary's governing body. The remarks were first reported by the conservative website The Federalist, which said it obtained a memo summarizing the meeting. Boasberg, the chief judge in the district court in the nation's capital, is a member of the Judicial Conference. Its meetings are not public. The complaint calls for an investigation, the reassignment of the deportations case to another judge while the inquiry is ongoing and sanctions, including the possible recommendation of impeachment, if the investigation substantiates the allegations. Trump himself already has called for Boasberg's impeachment, which in turn prompted a rare response from Roberts rejecting the call. The complaint was filed with Judge Sri Srinivasan, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. More than 250 Venezuelans who were deported to a Salvadoran mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, were sent home to Venezuela earlier this month in a deal that also free 10 U.S. citizens and permanent residents who had been held by Venezuela. But the lawsuit over the deportations and the administration's response to Boasberg's order remains in his court. Sherman writes for the Associated Press.
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Explained: The Misconduct Complaint Against Judge James Boasberg
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a formal misconduct complaint against Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, a prominent federal judge in Washington, D.C., accusing him of violating judicial ethics by making improper public remarks about President Donald Trump and his administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the move on July 28. Newsweek contacted the DOJ for comment by email outside regular working hours. Why It Matters Boasberg is presiding over Martínez v. Mayorkas, a high-profile case brought by a group of Venezuelan asylum-seekers who allege that their transfer to a Salvadoran detention facility on March 15 violated federal law and international human rights norms. The DOJ filed its complaint days after Boasberg said he was considering disciplinary proceedings against government lawyers for their conduct in that case, Reuters reported. The move raises questions about potential retaliation and the separation of powers between the judiciary and executive branch. Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, at an American Board Association panel discussion at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., on April 2. Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, at an American Board Association panel discussion at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., on April 2. AFP via Getty Images/Drew Angerer What To Know What Is a Judicial Misconduct Complaint? A judicial misconduct complaint is a formal allegation filed against a sitting federal judge claiming behavior that violates the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. These complaints are reviewed by the appropriate judicial council—in this case, likely the D.C. Circuit—and may lead to disciplinary actions, including reprimand, censure or even referral for impeachment in severe cases. However, most complaints are dismissed or resolved confidentially unless clear evidence of serious misconduct emerges. What Boasberg Said That Sparked the Complaint The DOJ complaint cites comments Boasberg made at the Judicial Conference in March, where he expressed concern that the Trump administration would "disregard rulings of federal courts" and trigger "a constitutional crisis." According to the complaint, Boasberg's words and conduct "erode public confidence in judicial neutrality, and warrant a formal investigation under Rule 11," which stipulates how a chief judge of a U.S. Court of Appeals should respond when a judicial misconduct or disability complaint is filed. The department said the judge's remarks undermined the appearance of judicial neutrality and breached ethical standards requiring judges to avoid political commentary. What the Complaint Against Boasberg Says According to the court document obtained by Newsweek, the DOJ has accused Boasberg of violating Canon 1, Canon 2(A) and Canon 3(A)(6) of the judicial code, which prohibit judges from making "public comment on the merits of a matter pending or impending in any court" and require them to maintain impartiality and "uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary." The complaint further said Boasberg's conduct had called into question the integrity of pending proceedings and eroded public confidence in the judiciary's ability to fairly adjudicate matters involving the executive branch. What People are Saying Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X on Monday: "Today at my direction, the Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg for making improper public comments about President Trump and his Administration. These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary, and we will not stand for that." What Happens Next The complaint signals a sharp escalation in the broader institutional conflict between Trump's Justice Department and federal courts handling cases related to his administration's policies.
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Justice Dept. Seeks Censure of Judge, Widening Fight With Judiciary
The Justice Department has filed a misconduct complaint against a federal judge who has ruled against President Trump's deportation plans, the latest move in the administration's broad pressure campaign on judges it believes are blocking the president's priorities. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on social media on Monday that the department had filed the complaint against Judge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington, 'for making improper public comments' about the president and his administration. The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, cited comments it said Judge Boasberg made in March before Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and other judges at the Judicial Conference of the United States, which oversees the administration of the federal courts. The complaint said that Judge Boasberg had told the gathering that he believed the Trump administration would 'disregard rulings of federal courts' and trigger 'a constitutional crisis.' His remarks, the complaint said, amounted to an attempt to 'improperly influence Chief Justice Roberts' and have 'undermined the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.' The Times could not independently verify the comments cited in the complaint. They were reported by The Federalist, a conservative website, which said it had obtained notes summarizing the closed-door meeting. Judge Boasberg's office did not immediately return a request for comment. He has been at the center of the administration's attacks on the judiciary since ruling in March that it could not deport Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th-century wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act. That ruling came days after the Judicial Conference meeting. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is James Boasberg? Trump administration files misconduct complaint against top Federal Judge
The U.S. Justice Department on Monday said it filed a misconduct complaint against Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, a prominent judge in Washington, D.C., who has drawn President Donald Trump's ire. James Boasberg has been hearing a lawsuit brought on behalf of alleged Venezuelan gang members removed from the U.S. under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act.(AFP) U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the complaint in a post on X days after Boasberg said he might initiate disciplinary proceedings against Justice Department lawyers for their conduct in a lawsuit brought by Venezuelans challenging their removal to a Salvadoran prison in March. The judge in April concluded the Trump administration appeared to have acted "in bad faith" when it hurriedly assembled three deportation flights on March 15 at the same time that he was conducting emergency court proceedings to assess the legality of the effort. The Justice Department's complaint focused on comments the conservative media outlet The Federalist this month reported that Boasberg made during a meeting of the judiciary's top policymaking body in March that was attended by Chief U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. The Justice Department, in a complaint reviewed by Reuters, said that during the meeting, Boasberg expressed his concern to Roberts and others that the Trump administration would disregard court rulings and trigger "a constitutional crisis.' The Justice Department argued those comments eroded public confidence in judicial neutrality and ran afoul of the judicial code of conduct. It accused him of then acting on his belief by issuing an order that blocked the president from using wartime powers to deport Venezuelan migrants. Justice Department Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle addressed the complaint to Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Mizelle asked the federal appeals court to refer the complaint to a special investigative committee. He also requested that the deportations lawsuit be reassigned to a different judge. Boasberg's chambers did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Boasberg, a former federal prosecutor, was first appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, who nominated him to the D.C. Superior Court in 2002. President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2011 appinted him to a U.S. District Court judgeship. Boasberg has been hearing a lawsuit brought on behalf of alleged Venezuelan gang members removed from the U.S. under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act. In an April order, Boasberg said there was "probable cause" to find the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his order to turn deportation flights around. The D.C. Circuit halted Boasberg's contempt finding days later, but has yet to rule on whether it should be reversed.
News18
13 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Justice Department Seeks Disciplinary Action Against DC Judge Over Trump Remarks
The complaint was submitted under the name of Chad Mizelle, Bondi's chief of staff. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has launched a formal complaint against Chief Judge James Boasberg of the US District Court in Washington, D.C., accusing him of judicial misconduct over comments he allegedly made about President Donald Trump's administration. The complaint was filed on Monday, as reported by CNN. US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, 'Today at my direction, the Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint against US District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg for making improper public comments about President Trump and his Administration." The complaint was submitted under the name of Chad Mizelle, Bondi's chief of staff, and delivered to Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The allegations stem from comments Boasberg is reported to have made during a judicial conference held in March. According to a report by POLITICO, which reviewed the contents of the formal complaint, Judge Boasberg allegedly implied that the Trump administration might 'disregard rulings of federal courts," thereby risking a 'constitutional crisis." The letter further claims Boasberg sought to improperly influence Chief Justice John Roberts and around two dozen other judges with his remarks. Mizelle argued that the judge's comments violated the 'presumption of regularity," a legal principle that assumes government officials act lawfully and in good faith. She also defended the administration's actions, stating that it had complied with existing court orders. Notably, Boasberg had previously blocked a Trump administration effort to deport a group of Venezuelan nationals to a prison facility in El Salvador. In an emergency hearing, held shortly after the controversial invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, Boasberg ordered that any aircraft already en route to El Salvador should be rerouted back to the US. However, reports suggest that the administration went ahead with its plans, successfully transferring many of the Venezuelan detainees despite the ruling. The complaint by Mizelle further alleges, 'Having assumed President Trump would defy court orders, Judge Boasberg issued a [temporary restraining order] and threatened sanctions, all on a false premise." Mizelle has called for disciplinary measures against Boasberg, including a public reprimand, and has requested that the Alien Enemies Act case currently assigned to him be reassigned to a different judge during the course of the investigation. According to protocol, judicial complaints in the US are usually reviewed by the chief appellate judge, who may dismiss them or order an investigation. A council of judges then decides on possible actions, such as a reprimand or reassigning cases. Removal from the bench, however, requires impeachment and a two-thirds Senate vote. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 20:32 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
