Amid President Donald Trump's renewed attacks on judges and unfavorable rulings against his administration, American Bar Association President Bob Carlson issued a Thanksgiving statement that he is thankful for judicial independence.
"Disagreeing with a court's decision is everyone's right, but when government officials question a court's motives, mock its legitimacy, or threaten retaliation due to an unfavorable ruling, they intend to erode the court's standing and hinder the courts from performing their constitutional duties," Carlson's statement Wednesday read.
"As we celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, let us all count our blessings as Americans – free speech; free press; an independent, impartial judiciary; and the ability of every person in our country to stand up and speak out in favor of the rule of law."
The statement comes after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' rebuke of President Trump's attacks on the 9th Circuit Court in California.
"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts wrote in Wednesday's statement. "What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.
"That independent judiciary is something that we should all be thankful for."
Chief Justice Roberts' statement was not spared a response from the president Thanksgiving morning.
"Justice Roberts can say what he wants, but the 9th Circuit is a complete & total disaster," President Trump tweeted Thursday. "It is out of control, has a horrible reputation, is overturned more than any Circuit in the Country, 79 percent, & is used to get an almost guaranteed result. Judges must not Legislate Security . . ."
". . . and Safety at the Border, or anywhere else. They know nothing about it and are making our Country unsafe. Our great Law Enforcement professionals MUST BE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB! If not there will be only bedlam, chaos, injury and death. We want the Constitution as written!"
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