Since the start of Trump’s second term, lower court federal judges have written sharply critical opinions about his legally dubious policies on immigration, tariffs, Department of Justice (DoJ) prosecutions of political foes and more. Former DoJ lawyers credit many district court judges for acting as crucial buffers against Trump’s power grabs and administration disdain for the rule of law. “District court judges around the country, appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents alike, are serving as the strongest guardrail against the incursions on the rule of law,” said ex-DoJ inspector general Michael Bromwich. Some former judges with conservative pedigrees say the surge in adverse lower federal court rulings have served as important checks on the Trump administration’s attacks on the rule of law. But the consequences of Trump’s ‘war’ on judges and Trump’s attempts to prosecute his perceived enemies have been manifest.

Source: The Guardian April 06, 2026 11:18 UTC