Reagan-appointed federal judge Mark Wolf has resigned from the bench in Massachusetts, and his explanation is blunt: he can no longer bear the ethical constraints that prevent judges from speaking out publicly while Trump dismantles the rule of law.
Fucking coward. Stay at your post and defend the fucking Constitution. Even if every one of your rulings gets overturned by the corrupt Supreme Court, at least there will be an enduring public record of your objection to Trump’s illegal activity.
Quitting just means fewer voices speaking out against his overreach. Eventually they will be drowned out by his loyalists, and there will be no more objections.
you should read the article before maligning him. As a judge his speech right is limited but once he is not a judge he is free to speak:
When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president.More importantly, Wolf’s making clear this resignation isn’t symbolic retreat—it’s tactical:
I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy. I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.I disagree. His decisions in court are far more important than his opinions outside of it. There are plenty of advocacy groups out there. Adding more voices to that side of the bench doesn’t matter if all the judges left, are compromised.
If every judge with a solid ethical foundation resigns, so they can “speak out”…there won’t be any left to “hear” the cases that are challenging the administration’s crimes.
A judge speaking out about a president dismantling the rule of law sounds like the ethical thing to do.
…instead of, you know, staying on and using your bench to defend the constitution from Trump. Nice backbone you got there.
if you actually read the article he’s becoming an activist against Trump. Something he is not allowed to do while holding the position
The point being made here is why the fuck is everyone who is in a position to do fucking anything to stop the fascists following the rules so punctiliously, when the fascists demonstrably do not give a flying fuck about the rules?
because what he is doing is more effective:
When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president.More importantly, Wolf’s making clear this resignation isn’t symbolic retreat—it’s tactical:
I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy. I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.Bc that’s the point. If you stoop to their level then you are no better than them. The law means something to this man. He will fight how he chooses to to maintain that law
If you stoop to their level than you are no better than them
Trump and his ilk are undermining the law to cleanse the US of those they deem undesirable. This guy could undermine the law to save those people.
There’s a bit of a difference between those two types of people.
Additionally, If the law is so easily discarded by those in power, then maybe the law isn’t worth defending at all. His activism would have been more effective as a sitting judge. To me he seems like a conservative judge who wishes conservatism still had a mask to hide behind.
He would make more of an impact staying where he was.
no the article specifically shows it would not:
When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president.More importantly, Wolf’s making clear this resignation isn’t symbolic retreat—it’s tactical:
I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy. I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.While I believe everyone should do what they feel is best, I have to agree with you
so now he holds the same power as a citizen!
what power would that be?
boy just pasting this on all the arm chair no it alls who can’t be bothered to read the article:
When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president.More importantly, Wolf’s making clear this resignation isn’t symbolic retreat—it’s tactical:
I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy. I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.who has more power in the justice department; a lawyer or a judge?
did you read it. trump does not pick his successor. It was picked in 2013 and he knows who it is. This is cake and eat it to.
wrong!
the judge has more power because they can set precedent.
So. He knows his replacement is good and can do that job for him and is younger and can stay at the post longer. I just don’t know how to explain this. You are wrong. What he is doing is the smartest thing to do.
That’s doomerism friend. He has the power to use his knowledge of the legal system and his status as a famous judge
it’s not doomerism, it’s the truth.
who do those things influence?
not the legal system, because now he has to work within the legal system and not on-top-of the legal system.
as far as being a “famous judge” does that mean Judge Judy has more power than him since she’s more famous?
Trump and his goons have no problem doing things they’re not allowed to do. Accepting foreign gifts, stealing the power of the purse, trampling over the bill of rights, kidnapping and selling citizens to foreign prisons like cattle. We can’t beat those dickheads if we play by the rules. If whiny fascists say “you can’t do that” the answer should always be “come and stop me.”
Now he gets to appoint a fascist judge to replace him.
He’s literally jumping off the castle walls and running into the besieging army of fascists. Stay at your post you dummy.
pasted this for a lot of read the title and not the article folks:
When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president.More importantly, Wolf’s making clear this resignation isn’t symbolic retreat—it’s tactical:
I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy. I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves.
Where are you going, Mark Wolf? Stick around.
