House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana and former constitutional law attorney, declared on Wednesday his backing of efforts to impeach two sitting federal judges, James Boasberg of Washington, D.C., and Deborah Boardman of Maryland. This development aligns Johnson with a faction of conservative lawmakers who contend that these judges have overstepped their lawful authority in cases involving former President Donald Trump and his government allies.
During a news conference held at the Capitol, when asked about the impeachment discussions surrounding Judges Boasberg and Boardman, Johnson articulated his support by stating, "I'm for it. Judge Boasberg is one who's been mentioned. And these are some egregious abuses," as reported by media sources.
Emphasizing his prior experience serving on the House Judiciary Committee—the body responsible for addressing impeachment articles—Johnson acknowledged that impeaching federal judges constitutes a rare and severe action. However, he qualified this stance by asserting that "extreme times call for extreme measures," implying that certain judicial conduct has fallen so far outside acceptable parameters that congressional intervention may be warranted to set a precedent against such abuses.
Nevertheless, Johnson refrained from committing to scheduling a floor vote on impeachment, stating, "We'll see where it goes," leaving the process open-ended.
Judges Boasberg and Boardman have been focal points for conservative critique due to rulings that limit or obstruct significant Trump-era policies. Boasberg has notably paused deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, pursued contempt charges for disregard of his orders, and authorized subpoenas and testimonies related to the January 6 events, thereby drawing the ire of Trump supporters.
On the other hand, Boardman intervened to block Trump's executive order addressing birthright citizenship, restricted the sharing of data with the Department of Government Efficiency, and sentenced Nicholas Roske—who plotted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh—to eight years in prison. The comparatively moderate sentence, which referenced Trump-era prison housing policies, attracted criticism from Republican figures.
Among lawmakers advancing the impeachment efforts, Representative Brandon Gill of Texas has filed formal articles accusing Judge Boasberg of "abuse of power." Senator Ted Cruz, also from Texas, convened a hearing focusing on both judges, arguing that their decisions contravene constitutional duties.
Cruz has particularly targeted Boardman for the sentencing of Roske, highlighting the discrepancy between the district court’s sentence and the prosecution’s recommendation of 30 years. In addition, Representative Chip Roy, another Texan Republican, introduced a resolution to impeach Boardman on allegations of persistent refusal to comply with legal standards.
It is important to note that judicial impeachments in the United States are historically unusual. Since the founding of the nation, the House of Representatives has impeached fifteen federal judges, with only eight removals by the Senate. These actions traditionally concern criminal conduct such as bribery or perjury, rather than decisions considered legally controversial or politically inconvenient.
Chief Justice John Roberts and numerous legal experts have cautioned against leveraging impeachment as a response to judicial rulings. They warn that such actions could undermine the principle of judicial independence, a cornerstone of the American legal system. These concerns are expected to be integral to any deliberation on the impeachment measures supported by Johnson.