Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt Criticizes Judge Boasberg’s Conduct in Trump Administration Cases

Senator Eric Schmitt, representing Missouri in the U.S. Senate, raised concerns on July 28, 2025, regarding the conduct of Judge James Boasberg of the D.C. District Court in cases involving the Trump administration.

In a series of posts on his official X account, Senator Schmitt questioned the appropriateness of judicial speculation and highlighted statements made by Judge Boasberg during his confirmation hearing. On July 28, 2025, Schmitt wrote: "This sort of baseless speculation by a judge would be improper in any context, but it's particularly egregious given that the Trump administration has been and remains the defendant in many lawsuits, including multiple cases before Judge Boasberg in the D.C. District Court."

He further referenced Judge Boasberg's remarks to the Judiciary Committee during his confirmation process: "During his confirmation hearing, Boasberg told the Judiciary Committee that 'Judges should not work from a desired outcome in assessing the law and facts' and 'a judge should fairly and impartially uphold the law as it is written.' Judge Boasberg has done the opposite." In another post from July 28, Schmitt added: "I went back and looked at Judge Boasberg's confirmation hearing. What he said shocked me."

Judge James E. Boasberg serves as Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He was appointed to this role after previously serving as an associate judge on both federal district courts and local courts within Washington D.C., with a reputation for handling high-profile cases involving government actions.

Confirmation hearings are formal proceedings where nominees to federal judgeships testify before members of Congress about their qualifications and judicial philosophy. Statements made during these hearings are often scrutinized when questions arise about a judge’s impartiality or adherence to legal standards.

The Trump administration has faced numerous lawsuits across various federal jurisdictions since its tenure began in January 2017. Many such cases have appeared before judges like Boasberg who preside over matters related to executive actions or administrative policies.