Judge Reggie Walton, a sitting D.C. Court judge who went on CNN to give a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump, recently decided that the Department of Justice was justified in spying on a J6 defendant’s computer without a warrant because it was seeking out information on controversial political opinions.
On Saturday, Judge Walton was himself rebuked by a D.C. court of appeals panel for signing off on unconstitutional and illegal surveillance practices simply because he politically disagreed with the defendants.
The D.C appeals court decided “The district court plainly erred in imposing the computer-monitoring condition without considering whether it was ‘reasonably related’ to the relevant sentencing factors and involved ‘no greater deprivation of liberty than is reasonably necessary’ to achieve the purposes behind the sentencing,” as reported by legal analyst Julie Kelly.
The Article 3 Project’s Mike Davis remarked, “Maybe Judge Reggie Walton should spend less time moonlighting as a CNN commentator? And more time learning basic law?”
Maybe Judge Reggie Walton should spend less time moonlighting as a CNN commentator?
And more time learning basic law? https://t.co/PHUj8YCbyo
— ?? Mike Davis ?? (@mrddmia) April 6, 2024
Mike Davis had earlier filed a complaint against Judge Walton for appearing on CNN and airing his personal grievances against former President Donald Trump, which reveals potential bias against dozens of January 6 defendants and Trump supporters.
“We are seeing a dangerous pattern in which DC federal judges, like … Reggie Walton have convinced themselves they have a duty — unbounded by the judicial canons — to make extrajudicial pronouncements about President Trump,” Davis wrote in a 13-page complaint.
“It is much worse when a different judge — especially a sitting federal judge — thinks it is his job to moonlight as a CNN commentator on a pending criminal case in another judge’s court,” he added.
Canon 3A(6) of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges states:
“A judge should not make public comment on the merits of a matter pending or impending in any court.”
Judge Reggie Walton violated this Canon.
This is highly prejudicial to President Trump, who is facing 4… https://t.co/RgyKrVaIWH pic.twitter.com/uCJZZtgpsa
— ?? Mike Davis ?? (@mrddmia) March 29, 2024
Mike Davis’ complaint that Judge Walton violated the judicial Code of Conduct was directed to Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.
Walton, who has overseen a handful of Capitol riot cases, defended his remarks on CNN.
“I made the comments I made in the context of the sentencing I’ve imposed because I’m hoping what I say to the individuals I’m sentencing will resonate,” Judge Walton said about his criticism of Donald Trump’s remarks about Judge Juan Merchan.
Trump has since filed a motion for Judge Merchan to recuse himself from the case due to his Biden contributions and his family’s radical activism.
The DC-based judge had previously called Trump a “charlatan,” remarking, “I don’t think he cares about democracy, only power” and questioned whether Trump would accept defeat.
Donald Trump declared immediately after the 2020 election was certified that he would step down as president on January 20, 2021.
