Judges Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder recently appeared before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government to discuss topics crucial to the functioning of the federal judiciary. Central to the hearing were issues relating to fiscal accountability and oversight, including concerns over calls for the impeachment of federal judges.
The judges expressed strong opposition to the idea of impeaching judges based on their rulings, categorically stating that such actions undermine the rule of law. They emphasized that judges are required to make decisions grounded in law and facts, devoid of political considerations. This protest comes amidst a backdrop of increasing threats to the judiciary, as evidenced by data from the US Marshals Service, which indicates a notable rise in threats directed at judges, with nearly 200 judges having been threatened between early March and late May this year.
Calling for further protection, the judges urged the Judiciary Committee to enhance support for judges’ security. Historical references were made, including citing Federalist 79 by Alexander Hamilton, underscoring the necessity of ensuring financial stability for judges to maintain their independence.
The issue of judicial funding was a key point of the hearing, with the US Judicial Conference requesting $9.4 billion in discretionary funding for FY2026—a 9.3% increase from the previous fiscal year. A significant portion of this request, $892 million, is earmarked for enhancing court security. Judges St. Eve and Scudder expressed worry that inadequate funding, especially for security measures, could endanger the judiciary’s independence, thereby posing a threat to the rule of law.
Both Judge St. Eve and Judge Scudder were appointed to the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit by former President Donald Trump in 2018, further illuminating the political contexts in which they make their appeals to Congress.
This article was first reported by JURIST. Read the full article here.