Judges cite political attacks, rising threats against judiciary
The retired jurists barnstormed through corn fields, cities and coal towns across Ohio and Pennsylvania over three days before making their final stop at a library in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, just outside Detroit — the last leg of an unusual tour aimed at defending judicial independence and bolstering trust in courts.
The tour comes as Americans’ confidence in the court system and democracy has declined in recent years. President Donald Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the fairness of the judicial system.
“I don’t want to say we have moved into an era of lawlessness, but it sometimes feels that way,” said former U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts, who joined the bus tour in Michigan.
Lewis, a former federal judge who served seven years on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said the rule of law is facing an “existential threat” from an ongoing breakdown of norms. He traced his concerns to the Senate’s refusal in 2016 to hold confirmation hearings for Garland.
“Looking back in history, we have teetered,” said former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly. “This is a moment where we can decide to reinstill those beliefs that we are a country of laws and not of men.”
In March, MSI reported that federal judges read profane death threats and described personal attacks during a forum hosted by Speak Up for Justice, where Chief Justice John Roberts warned that personal criticism of judges “it’s got to stop.” The U.S. Marshals Service said threats against judges had increased in the most recent fiscal year.