Judge Mark L. Wolf Resigns After 40 Years on the Bench
A federal judge from Massachusetts, Mark L. Wolf, made headlines with his unexpected resignation, marking the end of a 40-year career on the bench. He announced his decision in an op-ed for The Atlantic, where he expressed concern over what he described as President Donald Trump’s “angry attack on the court.”
The 78-year-old Wolf, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1985, submitted his resignation from his lifetime position on a Friday. In his article, Wolf explained that he was “relinquishing” his role because the Trump administration’s “attacks on the rule of law are so disturbing” that he felt the need to voice his opinions.
Throughout the piece, which mentioned Trump 30 times, Wolf criticized the former president for “targeting his opponents” while protecting his allies from investigations, prosecutions, and consequences. He reflected on his experiences in the courtroom with feelings of dismay and discomfort regarding the ethics rules that limit judges’ public expressions. “Day after day, I silently observed as President Trump and his allies dismantled much of what I had devoted my life to,” he wrote.
Citing parallels with President Richard Nixon, for whom he briefly worked at the Justice Department, Wolf contended that Trump’s actions are not only routine but also overt. “What Mr. Nixon did on a temporary, covert basis, knowing it was illegal, Mr. Trump is now doing routinely and openly,” he stated, particularly pointing to the prosecutorial decisions made under the current administration.
Recent indictments from the Trump administration’s Justice Department, involving figures like former FBI Director James Comey and former New York Attorney General Letitia James, have sparked allegations of political motivations. Trump, in turn, has highlighted his own indictments by the Justice Department during the Biden administration.
Wolf further noted that Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward the judiciary coincided with a notable rise in threats against judges—nearly 200 reported from March to May 2025. After stepping down, Wolf conveyed hopes of becoming a voice for judges who may feel constrained by the Code of Conduct in addressing the public candidly.
In response to Wolf’s op-ed, conservative lawyer Mike Davis labeled him an “activist” judge. Davis raised a question about Trump’s legal standing, noting the former president’s success in more than 80 percent of the Supreme Court’s emergency docket petitions in the current year.
Davis highlighted Wolf’s history, reminding readers that although appointed by a Republican president, Wolf received backing from Massachusetts Democratic senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Looking ahead, he mentioned that while Trump may nominate a replacement for Wolf, either Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren or Ed Markey could potentially block the confirmation using the Senate’s tradition of “blue slips,” which allows home state senators to veto judicial nominees.
