DOJ Files Complaint Against Judge James Boasberg

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially filed a complaint alleging misconduct by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. This comes after a review by Fox News of complaints authored by Attorney General Pam Bondy and Attorney General Chad Mizzel, directed toward the Supreme Court of Appeals for the Columbia District Circuit.

The DOJ’s complaint claims that Judge Boasberg made inappropriate public remarks about President Donald Trump to the Chief Justice and other federal judges, which allegedly compromised the integrity of the judicial system. Misell highlighted these concerns, emphasizing how such comments could undermine fairness in judicial proceedings.

Judge Boasberg is known for overseeing a notable case concerning the deportation of migrants to El Salvador. Reports indicate he expressed frustration over DOJ lawyers allegedly disregarding his directives regarding the return of planes. Interestingly, Trump has also publicly criticized Judge Boasberg.

Interestingly, the complaint points out two specific instances where Justice Boasberg’s comments supposedly undermined judicial integrity. One occurred during a session of the U.S. Judicial Conference on March 11, 2025. Here, he reportedly tried to sway Presiding Judge Roberts and other federal judges by suggesting that the Trump administration would not comply with court orders. This, according to the complaint, was not just inappropriate but also unfounded.

In a broader context, Judge Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order despite lacking the authority to do so, which aimed to prevent government actions against violent groups. This behavior raises serious concerns about adherence to judicial conduct standards and the public’s trust in an impartial judiciary.

The DOJ is now requesting Judge Srinivasan to engage the Task Force to assess whether Judge Boasberg’s actions disrupt effective court management. They also seek to have him removed from a case involving Venezuelan immigrants who have been deported to El Salvador, specifically the JGG v. Trump case.

This complaint also marks the second instance where Bondy’s DOJ has taken action against a federal judge. Earlier, in February, they filed a complaint in the case of Nicolas Talbott et al. v. Donald J. Trump et al., related to challenges against a ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military.