On Friday, March 28, 2025, Reuters reported that a conservative federal appeals judge has publicly criticized calls to impeach judges over controversial court rulings. Chief U.S. Circuit Judge William Pryor, who serves on the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and was once considered for a U.S. Supreme Court nomination by President Donald Trump, voiced his support for Chief Justice John Roberts’ recent remarks rejecting such impeachment efforts.
In a podcast interview with Yale Law School professor Akhil Amar, Pryor emphasized that the tradition in American jurisprudence does not support the impeachment of judges simply because their decisions are unpopular or contentious. He referenced Roberts’ statement, which came in response to Trump’s call for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. Boasberg had previously blocked Trump from utilizing wartime powers to deport Venezuelan migrants, a ruling that sparked significant backlash from the president and his supporters.
Roberts, a member of the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, did not directly name Trump in his statement but underscored that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements with judicial decisions. He highlighted the importance of maintaining respect for the judicial process and suggested that the proper course of action for those dissatisfied with court rulings is to pursue appeals, rather than seeking to remove judges from their positions.
Pryor noted that calls for impeachment have emerged from leaders across both major political parties in recent years, but he pointed out the rarity of such comments coming from a sitting president. He characterized Roberts’ response as “modest and factual,” stressing that it is essential to uphold the principle of judicial independence.
The discussion surrounding judicial impeachment has gained momentum, particularly following decisions by judges who have blocked initiatives from the Trump administration. Boasberg is one of six federal judges who have faced impeachment resolutions in the U.S. House of Representatives from conservative allies of Trump for their rulings against the administration.
In addition to Pryor, two other Republican-appointed appeals court judges—Jeffrey Sutton of the 6th Circuit and Richard Sullivan of the 2nd Circuit—have also expressed their concerns regarding the trend of targeting judges for impeachment. This growing climate of hostility toward judges has been fueled by rhetoric from Trump, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, and other allies, who have criticized what they label as “activist” judges obstructing their agendas.
Pryor reiterated the importance of following established legal remedies for challenging court decisions, emphasizing that the judicial system provides mechanisms for appealing decisions deemed incorrect, rather than resorting to impeachment. His remarks reflect a broader concern among some members of the judiciary about the implications of politicizing the impeachment process in response to judicial rulings.
Source: Reuters
