Category archive

Rule of Law

Defiance of courts, attacks on judiciary, and erosion of democratic institutions

Records in this lens

3 incidents

Systematic Attacks on Judicial Independence and Defiance of Court Orders

A pattern of court order defiance, threats against judges, calls for impeachment, and DOJ Civil Rights Division gutting that constitutional scholars describe as the most serious executive-judicial confrontation since at least Watergate.

  • The administration continued deportation flights after Judge Boasberg ordered them stopped, leading to a finding of probable cause for criminal contempt.
  • Trump called for the impeachment of Judge Boasberg, prompting a rare rebuke from Chief Justice Roberts.

Executive Order Sanctioning International Criminal Court Officials

The administration imposed escalating sanctions on ICC officials -- including judges and prosecutors -- for investigating US citizens and allies, obstructing international criminal accountability and drawing broad condemnation from the UN and international legal community.

  • EO 14203 authorized visa restrictions and financial penalties against ICC officials investigating US citizens or allies, specifically Israel.
  • Sanctions were progressively expanded from prosecutor Karim Khan to four ICC judges and eventually 11 officials by December 2025.

Blanket Clemency for January 6 Defendants, Including Violent Offenders

Trump used his first day back in office to grant sweeping clemency to January 6 defendants, including people convicted of violent attacks on police and leaders of groups convicted of seditious conspiracy.

  • The clemency action covered most January 6 defendants on Trump's first day back in office.
  • It extended to violent offenders and leaders of groups convicted of seditious conspiracy.