Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 10
Retired Judges End 4-Day Rust Belt Tour Warning Rule of Law Is in Danger
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 10

Retired Judges End 4-Day Rust Belt Tour Warning Rule of Law Is in Danger

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 10

Summary

  • Four days of stops across Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan ended Friday in suburban Detroit, where retired judges said judicial independence and the rule of law face grave danger in the U.S.
  • The tour was meant to shore up public trust in courts as polarization deepens, confidence in democratic institutions slips and Trump repeatedly questions judicial fairness while asserting broad executive power.
  • 564 threats against federal judges were reported in the fiscal year ended in September, up from 509 a year earlier, underscoring the security fears judges say now accompany political attacks.
  • About 30 judges joined the bipartisan "Justice in Motion" effort, organized by nonpartisan groups and modeled partly on a 2021 Polish campaign to defend courts and explain their constitutional role.

Insights

With threats against judges surging, what new protections can truly safeguard judicial independence?
As public trust in courts hits historic lows, can the system reform itself to regain public confidence?