James Boasberg shown here on Monday, March 13, 2023.
Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Judge James “Jeb” Boasberg’s tenure at the federal trial court in Washington, D.C., had already been noteworthy prior to last weekend.
However, his recent involvement in a case opposing the deportation of numerous alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador has further spotlighted the veteran judge and his actions. Boasberg has insisted the Justice Department provide clarification regarding its compliance with his directives, and if noncompliant, the reasoning behind it.
In response, President Trump took to social media on Tuesday, asserting that Boasberg should face impeachment for his role in checking executive branch power. Legal analysts indicated that this is part of a wider initiative by the White House and its supporters to intimidate federal judges who have impeded some of Trump’s attempts to alter government operations.
Jeremy Fogel, a retired federal judge, noted that in American history, no judge has ever been removed from the bench purely for being “dissatisfied with his or her rulings.”
However, the notion of impeachment “creates a hostile atmosphere that complicates an already challenging role,” stated Fogel, who now leads the Berkeley Judicial Institute.
Chief Justice John Roberts took the unusual step of commenting on the judges’ role following Trump’s Tuesday remarks.
“For over 200 years, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements regarding judicial decisions,” Roberts stated. “The traditional appellate review process is in place for that purpose.”
Boasberg, 62, has refrained from comments outside of his official rulings and court utterances. Here are four aspects to note about him.
1. Boasberg played basketball at Yale University, where future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was his roommate in law school
Although his basketball days are behind him due to a knee replacement a few years back, his friend and former colleague Ron Machen remarked that Boasberg “was actually quite good” on the court.
2. Boasberg served for years as a leading homicide prosecutor in D.C. during a time when violent crime rates were elevated
Boasberg joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington in 1996 and remained there for over five years. Former colleague Glenn Kirschner remarked that Boasberg “never lost a homicide case,” despite handling some of the toughest assignments in the office at that time.
“He had a unique ability to connect with individuals from various backgrounds, and it was sincere,” Kirschner noted.
3. He has made pivotal decisions in the Justice Department’s criminal cases against Donald Trump
Boasberg spent nearly a decade on D.C.’s municipal court before advancing to the federal bench, appointed by then-President Obama. The Senate confirmed him with a unanimous vote in 2011.
For the last couple of years, he has acted as chief judge of the federal district court, during which time he has overseen two now-defunct federal investigations related to Donald Trump.
Boasberg ruled that former Vice President Mike Pence must testify before a grand jury regarding a special counsel inquiry into Trump and the events surrounding the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Many of his law clerks eventually move on to clerk for justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
4. He values collegiality
Boasberg has worked diligently to create a collegial atmosphere within the courthouse, often organizing luncheons for judges.
He has also made visits to his alma mater, Yale, for speaking engagements alongside fellow judge, Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, emphasizing their mutual respect for the rule of law.
“We interact socially and genuinely respect one another,” Friedrich mentioned. “Engaging with differing perspectives can enhance both our skills as lawyers and as individuals.”
