U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Monday that the Justice Department has filed an official misconduct complaint against Judge James Boasberg, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, citing improper public comments and demonstrated bias against the Trump administration.
“These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary,” Bondi said. “We will not allow the impartiality of our courts to be compromised.”
The complaint stems from revelations that Judge Boasberg expressed skepticism during a March 2025 judicial conference that the Trump administration would follow federal court rulings — despite no legal basis for the belief at the time.
Boasberg Accused of Violating Judicial Ethics
DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle stated Boasberg’s conduct “violated the Canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges,” which require judges to “promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”
“He first tried to persuade Chief Justice Roberts and others that the Trump Administration would not follow court orders,” Mizelle said. “Then he acted on that baseless belief again and again in litigation.”
Memo Reveals Widespread Judicial Bias
The misconduct complaint was prompted by a memo obtained by The Federalist, which documented a March conference where Boasberg voiced concerns to Chief Justice John Roberts and two dozen other judges that the Trump administration might disregard court rulings, potentially triggering a constitutional crisis.
The memo alleges Boasberg and his D.C. colleagues discussed pending lawsuits involving the Trump administration and even named a defendant — a major breach of judicial protocol and neutrality.
“That Judge Boasberg and his fellow D.C. judges would discuss how a named Defendant in numerous lawsuits might respond to an adverse ruling is shocking,” the report said.
Pattern of Anti-Trump Rulings
Boasberg, an Obama appointee, has issued multiple controversial rulings against President Trump’s policies, including:
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Ordering deportation flights to turn around mid-air
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Threatening Trump officials with criminal contempt
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Ruling against executive branch firings
He is one of several D.C. judges — including Beryl Howell, Tanya Chutkan, and Amy Berman Jackson — accused by critics of weaponizing the bench against Trump in politically charged cases.
Trump DOJ: Every Litigant Deserves Fairness
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented earlier this month:
“A newly revealed memo confirms that at least some federal judges were predisposed against the Trump administration. This is a serious breach of the judicial oath and a threat to the rule of law.”
