As a specialist in judicial independence, gonna go out on a limb and say that a justice minister explicitly declaring her intent to purge the judiciary is … bad. - ThreadSky

patrickcobrien.bsky.social • 2 days ago

As a specialist in judicial independence, gonna go out on a limb and say that a justice minister explicitly declaring her intent to purge the judiciary is … bad.

Reposted from Aaron Rupar

Bondi declares war on the courts: "What has happened to our judiciary is beyond me ... they are deranged ... we are sending a very strong message today ... we will come after you and we will prosecute you. We will find you."

Comments

inheyl.bsky.social•2 days ago

'We will find you' Judges are not an underground group, they are very visible and have a publicly available place of work - but american inteligence

bursar.bsky.social•2 days ago

This attitude wont play well with the rest of the judiciary either, even the ones who seem on Trumps side wont tolerate this kind of attempted intimidation.

del-monte.bsky.social•1 day ago

Then, they came for the journalists . . .
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/25/pam-bondi-journalists-subpoenas

drjoemcintyre.bsky.social•2 days ago

As another such specialist I concur with this

drjoemcintyre.bsky.social•2 days ago

Incidentally, I have been trying to think of a historical analogy. Even the Stuart's just sacked judges. Any thoughts when an English judge was last arrested for performing judicial role?

patrickcobrien.bsky.social•2 days ago

There’s no example I’m aware of, to be honest. It’s extreme even by the standards of authoritarian states. Democratic backsliding is more typically characterised by jurisdiction stripping, sacking and court packing over a period of years. They seem to skipping that bit.

marstrina.bsky.social•2 days ago

They've already done that bit, surely? Didn't Trump 1 appoint more judges than any other president or something? Not just SCOTUS but at all levels.

patrickcobrien.bsky.social•1 day ago

That’s definitely a factor but the unusual nature of the US system - the fact that ideology has long been accepted as a legitimate criterion for judge selection - entails that that’s a hard one to call. What we’re seeing now is a really significant challenge to US democratic norms.

drjoemcintyre.bsky.social•2 days ago

That was my thoughts too. Really worrying

giffordhead.co.uk•2 days ago

HHJ Holt was prosecuted under the Computer Misuse Act for reading digital files about a case involving her daughter. The trial judge found there was no case to answer — in those days Judges had free access to all cases on the system. But it was later found to be judicial misconduct.

drjoemcintyre.bsky.social•2 days ago

An interesting case, but not judicial conduct like Duggan actions

Maintaining order and decorum in hearing is fundamental obligation. Here she could have held ICE in contempt if they didn't leave when asked. Her approach was de-esclatory and proper

giffordhead.co.uk•2 days ago

Yes. Indeed. Though I think it is interesting since even if it wasn't judicial conduct in the sense of arising from proceedings before her, it was conduct that arose out of her being a judge.