In brief
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals under Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton has dismissed a misconduct allegation against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. The complaint arose from comments Boasberg made regarding a constitutional crisis triggered by the Trump administration's deportation policies. Sutton indicated the Justice Department failed to substantiate the claims, emphasizing the lack of corroborating evidence. This decision comes amid ongoing discussions about judicial independence and the integrity of court proceedings.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has put to rest a misconduct complaint filed against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. The complaint stemmed from a clash between Boasberg and the Trump administration regarding deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton announced the dismissal on December 19, a decision that became public only recently.
In March 2025, Boasberg reportedly expressed concerns at a judicial conference about the Trump administration potentially instigating a constitutional crisis by ignoring federal court rulings. His statements were made shortly before he issued an order blocking deportation flights invoking longstanding wartime authorities.
In response to the complaint, Sutton noted that the Justice Department had failed to provide sufficient proof or context for the allegations against Boasberg, stating, “A recycling of unadorned allegations with no reference to a source does not corroborate them.”
Spokespeople for the Justice Department have not responded to requests for comments regarding the dismissal. Meanwhile, Boasberg declined to comment on the situation.
This dismissal raises questions about the ongoing debates over judicial independence, with Sutton referencing Chief Justice John Roberts' year-end report, which articulated concerns regarding the threats posed to judicial integrity and respect for court orders throughout history.
