In a series of rare interviews, a dozen anonymous federal judges criticized the Supreme Court for continuing to “undermine” lower court rulings that contradict the Trump administration‘s policies, offering little explanation and not addressing rising threats of violence against judges.
Speaking with NBC News, the judges, both Democratic and Republican appointees, point to an increasing trend of the Trump administration appealing to the Supreme Court following unfavorable rulings by lower courts. The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, issues emergency rulings, more often than not in favor of Trump’s policies. Little or no explanation comes with the rulings.
Ten of the 12 judges who spoke to NBC say things need to change, calling for more clarity from the Supreme Court justices in their rulings and warning of “bias” in favor of Trump.
“It is inexcusable,” a judge said of the Supreme Court’s actions. “They don’t have our backs.”
The judges also criticized the court for not addressing threats of violence against judges, which have been steadily increasing. Judges in lower court have reported receiving death threats following rulings that go against Trump, with more than 400 cases investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service in 2025 alone.
The judge who called the Supreme Court’s actions “inexcusable” reported threats of violence in the past, and is now fearful for his life. “Somebody is going to die,” the judge said.
The same judge went on to accuse the Trump administration of “undermining the lower courts,” stating that district and appeals judges are being “thrown under the bus.”
One judge, appointed by President Barack Obama, gave the courts some credit, while acknowledging that his fellow judges “are partially right to feel the way they feel.”
“The whole ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ is a real issue,” the Obama-appointee said. “As a result, judges are mad at what Trump is doing or the manner he is going about things; they are sometimes forgetting to stay in their lane.”
Trump has made his feeling clear about lower court judges whose rulings go against his policies, referring to them as “activist judges.” Trump has targeted “weak and ineffective judges” on social media, and declared that he is above the rulings of judges he dislikes.
“He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” Trump said in February.
The post “Somebody is going to die”: Judges rip Supreme Court’s “inexcusable” Trump bias in rare interviews appeared first on Salon.com.