America must protect its judges and defend the rule of law

Appearing at an event of the National Republican Congressional Committee earlier this year, President Trump urged Congress “to pass a tough new crime bill that imposes harsh penalties for dangerous repeat offenders.” Who were these “repeat offenders,” you might ask? Judges. 

Trump’s remarks are just the latest broadside from this administration and its congressional allies against the judiciary. But they must be given more than passing criticism or a fleeting eye roll. After all, remarks like this threaten both judicial independence and security.

Judges — federal and state, at the trial and appellate levels — are, at this moment, the vanguard of safeguarding democracy. And with that role has come increased scrutiny. The scrutiny, however, has taken a form that is wholly unjustified and all too often dangerous — to judges and their families and to the rule of law.

Criticism of judicial decision-making is, and should, be fair game in a democratic republic like ours. We should embrace responsible and respectful disagreement with judicial opinions. After all, I believe that the Citizens United, Dobbs, Shelby County and Janus cases were all incorrectly decided, and I will continue to denounce decisions that curb individual rights and favor corporations over everyday Americans. This criticism, however, is materially different than what we’re seeing now from the administration and from the party in power in Congress.

In addition to Trump’s remarks to the National Republican Congressional Committee, several other examples highlight my point:

The president has attacked multiple........

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