Summary: Federal judges are coming under attack after issuing orders to block White House initiatives.
Quotes:
“Personal attacks against federal judges, including calls for impeachment and the online posting of home addresses, are highly inappropriate and dangerous — whether through social media or news outlets,” says Paul Grimm, director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School.
“These judges are doing their best dealing with cases that present challenging legal issues. The public must be able to rest assured in the knowledge that cases will be resolved by the judge as fairly as possible, without fear of recrimination or personal harm to them, their families, or their staffs.”
“It is the duty of lawyers, bar associations, elected officials and all who value the rule of law to defend judges whose constitutional duties require them to decide cases that challenge governmental policies as violating the Constitution or federal laws.”
“The Constitution imposes on judges the duty to exercise checks and balances on legislative and executive action that has been challenged as violating the law. While individuals and organizations have a First Amendment right to criticize judicial decisions, it crosses the line to attempt to threaten and intimidate a judge in doing so, and such conduct is indefensible.”
Bio:
Paul Grimm is director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, where he leads its Defending the Judiciary program and other initiatives. He is a retired district judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
For additional comment, contact Paul Grimm at:
grimm@law.duke.edu
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Media Contact:
Jeannie Naujeck
jeannie.naujeck@duke.edu
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