By Douglas V. Gibbs
Judge James Boasberg was nominated by President Barack Obama. He is the chief judge of the United States District Court for Washington D.C. Judge Boasberg has presided over several cases where actions by President Trump or his administration were challenged or overturned, particularly involving immigration enforcement and executive authority. Some of these rulings were later reversed by higher courts.
Boasberg was the judge who found the Trump administration to be in criminal contempt for refusing to abide by his order to stop deportation flights to El Salvador. The D.C. Circuit Court later ruled Boasberg abused his discretion.
Boasberg was the judge who in 2023 also went after President Trump’s attempt to expand deportations of illegal aliens, seeking to block the deportations by citing procedural violations and potential harm to asylum seekers. The controversial ruling was later challenged in higher courts, and was ultimately overturned in 2025 with the Circuit Court once again ruling that Boasberg exceeded his authority.
As part of Jack Smith’s probe into 2020 election-related activities, Boasberg was the judge who approved secret subpoenas for phone records of Republican members of Congress and the Senate, including Senator Ted Cruz. The subpoenas were a part of the larger Arctic Frost Investigation. The GOP alleges that Boasberg’s role was an abuse of judicial power and a violation of constitutional protections. The Republicans have responded with impeachment articles.
Boasberg’s role in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) have also placed him at the center of debates over government secrecy and civil liberties. He is now facing impeachment articles, being accused of operating in violation of a separation of powers, abusing his judicial power in politically sensitive investigations, including those involving allies of President Trump. He has a history of abuse of judicial discretion for ideological reasons.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
More about Boasberg:
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/11/01/rogue-judge-boasberg-may-finally-be-impeached-n4945495
