U.S. federal judges may advocate for greater security and defend colleagues against “illegitimate” attacks and criticism that risk undermining judicial independence or the rule of law, according to a new judicial ethics opinion, opens new tab released on Thursday.
The U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committee on Codes of Conduct issued the new ethics guidance as a growing number of judges have come under attack by President Donald Trump and his allies and have been labeled “judicial activists” for ruling against the Republican’s policies and immigration enforcement agenda.
Some Republican lawmakers have advocated for impeaching judges over opinions they have issued while blocking Trump’s policies. The number of judges reporting threats against them rose last year, prompting some judges to raise public concerns about strains on the judiciary’s independence.
Thursday’s opinion said the Code of Conduct for United States Judges and the panel’s earlier advisory opinions confirm that judges may speak publicly about the role of federal courts, suggestions to improve the legal system and related topics.