Constitutional Law Expert Examines Trump’s Confrontation with the Judiciary

Steve Vladeck:

It’s truly remarkable, both that the Chief Justice chose to intervene and the speed at which he did so.

President Trump recently called for the impeachment of Chief Judge Boasberg publicly on Monday, and by Tuesday, Chief John Roberts—known for his careful deliberation—issued this statement.

This represents a significant acknowledgment by the Chief Justice that we are in unusual times. In reality, I believe this is a message directed not at President Trump, but rather at every district judge across the nation, reassuring them that the Chief Justice stands in their corner. It’s also a message to us, the American public, emphasizing that regardless of your opinions on the courts or the Supreme Court today, our judicial system is built on the principle that courts have the authority to interpret the law. If there’s a disagreement with their decisions, the appropriate course of action is to appeal.

When the Supreme Court makes a mistake, that’s when we can discuss what Congress’s role should be. Can we amend the Constitution? The correct avenue isn’t for a single president to declare, “I disagree with this ruling, so I won’t abide by it.” If that were the case, we wouldn’t have a government based on laws; we would have a government ruled by one individual, which is exactly what the Constitution strives to prevent.