A federal appeals court judge has dismissed a misconduct complaint filed by the Justice Department against a judge who clashed with President Donald Trump’s administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The complaint against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg was dismissed on Dec. 19 by Jeffrey S. Sutton, chief judge of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but the order only came to light this weekend.
The complaint stemmed from remarks that Boasberg allegedly made in March 2025, which suggested that the administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings. Sutton stated that the Justice Department never provided sufficient proof of Boasberg's alleged comments and that uncorroborated statements do not support a valid misconduct complaint. This case illustrates the continuing strains between the federal judiciary and the Trump administration regarding deportation policies and judicial independence.
The complaint stemmed from remarks that Boasberg allegedly made in March 2025, which suggested that the administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings. Sutton stated that the Justice Department never provided sufficient proof of Boasberg's alleged comments and that uncorroborated statements do not support a valid misconduct complaint. This case illustrates the continuing strains between the federal judiciary and the Trump administration regarding deportation policies and judicial independence.
