Overview
- The dismissal stems from a December 19 order that was disclosed this weekend, ending the Justice Department’s rare bid to sanction the D.C. district’s chief judge.
- The DOJ alleged Boasberg told colleagues at a March Judicial Conference that the administration would disregard court rulings and risk a constitutional crisis, citing reporting it never supplied.
- Sutton said the department failed to provide the referenced attachment or any corroborating source even after a court inquiry, writing that recycled, unverified claims cannot support misconduct.
- He added that, even if the comments were made, such concerns voiced in a closed Judicial Conference fall within acceptable discussions of judicial administration and do not violate ethics rules.
- The complaint was filed in July by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office after Boasberg faulted deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act; Chief Justice John Roberts transferred the matter to the Sixth Circuit due to conflicts in Washington.