A prominent conservative judge, James Ho, has resigned from the Federal Judges Association (FJA), the largest group of federal judges in the U.S. This decision follows a public statement by the FJA addressing the rise in criticism, threats, and violence against judges. The statement was issued after several judges faced backlash for blocking Trump administration policies.
Judge Ho, who serves on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and was appointed by former President Donald Trump, criticized the FJA’s statement during a speech at the Federalist Society’s National Student Symposium. He described the statement as “sanctimonious” and argued that it selectively supports judicial independence only when it aligns with certain political views.
The FJA, which has over 1,100 members, released its statement on Wednesday, highlighting the crucial role judges play in upholding democracy and warning about “irresponsible rhetoric” and security risks. The statement came as billionaire Elon Musk and other Trump allies have increased their criticism of judges who oppose White House policies, even calling for some judges’ impeachment.
FJA President Michelle Childs, appointed by President Joe Biden, emphasized that the judiciary faces growing threats, including violence and disinformation. However, Judge Ho pointed out that the FJA did not issue similar statements when conservative judges, like Justice Brett Kavanaugh, faced threats. Kavanaugh was the target of an alleged assassination attempt in 2022.
Ho argued that supporting judicial independence should be consistent, regardless of political affiliations. “You can’t say you’re in favor of judicial independence only when it comes to decisions you like,” he said. “That’s not protecting the judiciary; it’s politicizing it.” The FJA did not comment on Ho’s resignation.
